11/7/09 Principles of Child Development Reading Your Baby's Mind, How reseach on infants finally begins to answer the question what's going on in there ? Babies & their minds (up to one year & beyond) In the last ten years scientics have been doing experiments with babies & toddlers. For long time, the scientific community thought that babies at one year of age & below do not think much that they were nothing but "one great looking confusion" according to father of American psychology William James. James was also a philosopher & at the time in USA, sciencetific studies were in its infancy. He is known for pragmatic philosophical views, for theories on truth like corresponding theories of truth, socio-psychological processes & factors, etc... However, James did not have all the modern gadgets, sophistiaced (brainwaves measuring devices EEG, electroencephalograph) tools at disposal scientists of today have today: MRI, X-Rays, Sonography, etc... No wonder they can reach deeper. All these instruments including computer monitoring of the babies' brains helped shed light on the actual thought proceses deep inside their brains. Many articles on nutrition do not explain anything why nutrition is important in baby's life. Without proper nutrition brains will not truly function nor grow. Proper nutrition (according to baby's needs & activities) of a child should be balanced. A growing child needs rich nutrition, some should be derived from organic sources. Scientific experiments presented in this article point out that babies capable of jealousy, could retain memory for long time, can hold grudges, envy, empathy. They can discern emotions from facial expressions of people who surround them. Babies 6 months & under understand meaning in subtle expressions. It's innate, reflective, instinctive. Baby will stare at you, that's how it analyzes a living person, an object or anything. It's first step in social development. When they are around 15 months, they will try to comfort crying playmate, before that age they would start to cry just because they heard & saw another baby cry & if there were many babies in the room, one cry would lead to symphony, concert of cry babies. Babies are aware of their surroundings. From the time they are born they gather, sort, process information from their surroundings. They use the gathered data to develop thought processes, perception, (rational) thinking. When babies are one year of age (usually) they will start to make silly sounds, simple syllable, vowel filled words (in all languages, cultures, in any era) like ba-ba, ma-ma, ta-ta, is-ka, ko-ka, pi-pa, do-do, etc... It's the beginning of language development. Brain starts rapid expansion. Emotional engagement between parents and its child is crucial in good language development. Studies have shown that unhealthy, turbulent environment with depressed parents (the nucleus of future problems), or care-givers (especially from single parent and/or defficient, low income, broken families, households) contribute to pretty certain future social problems, but ignorant sorry ass judgemental society must be blamed for it a lot too) who spend little time with their babies make things worse socially, emotionally for the baby, it takes more time (just like for blind babies) to learn language. Emotional disconnection can cause rapid onset of depression, agression, anti social feelings. Therefore steady interaction, eye to eye contact is recommended. Child's social, emotional, academic life begins at an early stage. If a child is not interaction back, there could be a problem & baby should be diagnosed on time for possible problems, defects; especially if speech does not develop according to progression of child's age. Children develop real linguistic skills when they are between 3 & 6. Their cognitive processes become more precise, deeper. Both in men & woemn, it takes about 20 years for brain to fully develop, at least 20 for men. Memory from experience plays a big role in it, but life is always evolving process of learning, all goes around in circle! Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, problem solving & decision making from childhood. Children of overprotective parents or those who don't encourage them to overcome shyness, reactive impulses or anxiety, may remain shy & anxious for long time, however kids under watchful eyes of confident parents, (legal) guardians who help them to take emotional positive steps, who show them to break the low esteem shell they are in can overcome awkwardness, shyness. These things are important, because with proper approach at the start can prevent future social, behavioral, social, psychological problems. Stunt Growth (most serious problem is in Afghanistan due to decades of wars): Stunted child is likely to experience a lifetime of poor health health & underachievement because essential nutrition was missing in child's life from start. Breast feeding the baby until at least 6 months of age is the norm, such milk can not be replaced with other milk, so called ingredients or whatever. Tea is not recommened at an early age because some types can absorb iron, thus causing anemia. Porridge, milk, butter and sugar related products should seldom be given, they are not rich in vitamins & minerals. Most of the times what children & mothers eat is not usually driven by economic indicators, but mostly by diet preferences, what's available, what's culturally trendy and culture & tradition could be a problem. Particular stunning is in Yemen where 58% of all Yemeni children are significantly short for their age. Afghanistan's rate is 59% Wars did not help the kids. While USA & Afghanistan are fighting Taliban they are losing on more important front. Stunting is more serious than malnutrion. If a child is undernourished it's tougher to overcome diseases, death rate is higher. Just because some country is rich does not mean children benefit from it. 1000 days from conception until child's second birthday is crucial development process. Lack of healthy nutrition during these important years impairs child's ability to fight & survive diseases. It impacts their social, mental capacities most likely for their entire lives. Those who survive undernutrition may suffer poorer physical health, damaged cognitive abilities that limits their capacity to learn & later to make decent living, to have healty, happy, motivated lives. That creates joyes surroundings & content, safe lifestyles for an individual & for the whole families. Yemen, Guatemala, Ehtiopia are other countries where more than half children under 5 are stunted. Such children when they grow up become problem, their health care costs & that affects country's economy. Reading babies' minds, understanding their action, reaction based on proper (gentle) interactions; (categorical) observation is essential in raising, getting to know the child. Smiling, playing with the baby are the key ingredients. Building blocks in parenthood in early childhood & beyond. Early childhood is not up to 5 years of age, it should be up to 6. One's body can grow but if mind is stuck in certain developmental stage, period that person is not mentally where it ought to be at that stage. Many things come into existence, begin to develop, expand, shape at an early period. Recognizing & fixing symptoms, problems on time will lessen negative outcome & improve the condition both in short & long term. - Articulate your opinion of the informatttion presented in the article, show how they can be integrated in real life, work, family!