Give children enough space and time to experience and explore. Help and encourage them to develop their own curiosity and creativity. A child’s imagination and creativity are enriched through their awareness of art and other children around them.

(PDF) Children’s Minds, by Margaret Donaldson. Published by

Brain architecture can be built throughout childhood, adolescence and even into adulthood (Shonkoff et al, 2008). Shonkoff, J.P., Boyce, W.T. and McEwen, B.S. (2009) Neuroscience, molecular biology, and the childhood roots of health disparities: building a new framework for health promotion and disease prevention, Journal of the American Medical Association, 301 (21), 2252-2259.Nurturing and responsive care for the child’s body and mind is the key to supporting healthy brain development. Positive or negative experiences can add up to shape a child’s development and can have lifelong effects. To nurture their child’s body and mind, parents and caregivers need support and the right resources. The right care for children, starting before birth and continuing through childhood, ensures that the child’s brain grows well and reaches its full potential. CDC is working to protect children so that their brains have a healthy start. The importance of early childhood experiences for brain development

Children’s Minds by Margaret Donaldson | Waterstones

Before I started my new job I wanted to try and get some idea of how children's minds work. This book was recommended to me - it's short and easy to read, and conveys a lot of information in language that is clear and easy to understand. Donaldson looks at the Piagetian theory of child development in terms of mental abilities and comprehension of concepts such as conservation, and uses examples from research to show what children are actually able to do in practice. National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage (2019) Breaking down the barriers (PDF). [s.l.]: National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage.By sharing the brain story through these six metaphors, all the adults around a child can learn how to help create positive brain building environments and experiences. These include: Soothe and care for children when they are distressed – this helps their brains develop healthier ways to manage stress (Crowley, 2017). Who is Good At This Game? Linking an Activity to a Social Category Undermines Children’s Achievement You need to be confident and give children time to respond to the things they see, hear and experience at their own individual level. This is as relevant to babies as it is to older children. Like improving or rebuilding the architecture of a house – refurbishing rooms, strengthening foundations – the brain can also be improved and rebuilt following childhood trauma through an active process of maintenance and care from supportive, trusted adults.