AS parents, we should probably be more aware and active in the experiences and activities are young impressionable minds are exposed to.




Much of the upper portion of a baby's brain is underdeveloped at birth. A major part of this region is the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for things like voluntary movement, emotions and memories. The cerebral cortex is made up of four lobes. The frontal lobe is responsible for personality, memory, judgment and voluntary activities. The parietal lobe handles spatial orientation. The occipital lobe governs vision while the temporal lobe handles speech. The cerebral cortex and its hemisphere develop as a baby matures.


Development of the Cerebral Cortex



The cerebral cortex develops as a baby experiences new sensations and interacts with her environment. Connections between her nerves called synapses are created as responses to different stimuli. The mental processes using these synapses create memories of stimuli and experiences. These memories become more sophisticated as a baby ages and becomes more aware of the world around her. The cerebral cortex takes up to 10 years to fully develop, and continues to become more complex after that.



Read more: What Two Parts of the Brain Are Still Underdeveloped When the Baby Is Born? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8073187_two-still-underdeveloped-baby-born.html#ixzz2EmB3PCHr




what we 'are' , almost from birth can be altered and eventually defined by what we experience,,, the brain is an amazing instrument

especially the brain of young children,,,,


it is scary to me, that the world is changing so much and I know I Cant be in my childs pocket 24/7, but I have a new years resolution to be more adamant in 'guiding' my childs experiences and exposure during these impressionable years ( toddler through kindergarten)


im just venting because of a phrase I Heard for the thousandth time the other day,, the idea that kids are gonnna (hear/see/learn about it) 'one way or another'


I think there is a difference between knowing they will learn 'one way or another' and reinforcing what it is they might learn by being their example of it,,,,


I think kids will set their 'normal' by whatever we as parents do and say and expose them to as kids,, thats the only world that exists as far as they are concerned,,,,and it has a strong influence on their 'base' as they go out and explore other 'worlds' beyond those experiences,,,

I have to agree, while my children where younger I was very strict with what they watched, read and heard.
They where taught respect, they learnt to listen to obey and to work.

To many this seemed old fashioned or strange, but all it involved was very little Tv, lots of outdoor play, jobs and lots of fun.

They had never seen the simpsons, or any other Tv show that children where rude to others or where there was swearing or anything else that they didnt need to see.

They didnt start school until they where older and where homeschooled for part of their younger lives.

Now the youngest is almost 13, the oldest is 22, once I thought they where old enought to understand the concepts that TV shows are just shows and that the behavour of the people on them is not something that you want to immitate they where allowed to watch them.

Now they are young adults who can pretty much make up their own minds about most things, they have more freedom then any of their friends, as they can make their own choices and to a point chose what they want to do. Simply because I know I can trust them to make good choices.