Assignment: Nature vs Nurture and Early Brain Development Analysis

This assignment delves into the nature versus nurture debate in early brain development, drawing insights from an article and a video. The assignment explores how the brain's neural connections are shaped by experience during the first three years of life, emphasizing the importance of environmental stimuli and nurturing care. The analysis highlights how educators can foster cognitive development by creating supportive environments, organizing learning materials, and providing appropriate sensory stimuli. The student analyzes the impact of these factors on children's learning and behavior and discusses the implications of the findings for educational practices. The assignment emphasizes the importance of providing children with appropriate learning opportunities to encourage the development of synapses. The student also addresses the impact of toys and play areas on the children’s learning process.

Running head: NATURE AND NURTURE
Nature/Nurture
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

1
NATURE AND NURTURE
Nature/Nurture and Early Brain Development
The article provided valuable information on the nature of early brain development that
was previously unknown to me. After reading the article, I came to know that the human brain is
still not prepared for full functioning as the neurons of the brain are apart from one another.
Connections between neurons are established and reinforced for the initial 3 years of life. As the
development of the child progresses, the neuron system also develops. Between birth and age
three, the brain is responsible for creating more number of synapses than required. The synapses
that are subsequently used become the brain’s permanent part. Those that are not in use are
eliminated eventually. Experience plays a prime role wiring the child’s brain. Since children are
expected to be successful, they are to be provided with suitable learning and social opportunities.
Because of this, synapses associated with the experiences become permanent. The manner in
which physical and social environments provide response to infants has a pivotal role in the
synapse creation. The experiences of the child act as the stimulation that is responsible for
sparking the activity between dendrites and axons and creating synapses.
Both the video and the article have challenged my assumption, that a child’s development
is predominantly based on the nature. Both of these indicate that the nurturing of the brain plays
a primitive role in shaping up the child’s behaviors. Infants learn about the outside world through
interactions and these interactions direct their actions. Brain connection leading to success in
later stages grows out of predictable, supportive and nurturing care.

2
NATURE AND NURTURE
Cognitive Discoveries Video 2
The educators in the video are placing toys in different sections of the play area in a safe
manner for minimizing the stress for the young learners. Organization of the toys is a good
approach as having toys all over the play area can cause immense stress for the child. The reason
for stress is that findings the right toy for play can be a difficult and daunting task for children if
they are scattered all over the play area. Though organizing the toys might be a time consuming
effort, the benefits are noteworthy. The toys have been arranged in different shelves as per their
requirement. Limited toys are available on the floor that is sufficient for the children to play
with.
The educators are supporting the skill of the children to respond to stimuli. At the
sensorimotor stage, children to learn to respond to stimuli through which they interact with the
environment. In the present case, the children are developing the skill of responding to visual
stimuli. The children have been encouraged to identify objects and differentiate between the
objects of different sizes and shapes. Further, the children are also responding differently to still
and moving stimuli. The children are provided with support to complete puzzles and identify
pictures and shapes. The educators have attempted to understand the patterns of responses
provided by the children against the environment. This has enabled them to determine the forms
of activities and toys that are potential reinforcers for each child. Observing the children
carefully and acknowledging the responses to stimuli has been noteworthy.