Think of the moment a baby is born. A tiny body, completely helpless and trying to understand its surroundings… In just a few years, this tiny body transforms into a child who walks, talks, sings, and expresses their own desires. Behind this great change is an invisible but rapidly working system: the brain.
Scientific research shows that the first three years of a child's development are not only important but also crucial. This is because these years are when the brain's fundamental architecture is established and the foundation for learning is laid. So what makes this period so critical?
Let's take a closer look at the developmental processes of children during the first three years to understand why these years are so important.
The Period of Fastest Brain Growth: The Early Years
At birth, a baby's brain is about one-quarter the size of an average adult brain. However, this changes very quickly. According to research , the brain almost doubles in size by the end of the first year. By age 3, it reaches approximately 80% of an adult brain, and by age 5, it reaches 90%.
Of course, this growth isn't just a volumetric increase. What's truly important are the neural connections formed between brain cells. These connections are shaped by everything the child sees, hears, touches, and experiences. In other words, early childhood experiences can directly influence how the brain functions.
The First 3 Years: Not Just Learning, But Building a Foundation
While the first three years of a child's life are often associated with learning, neuroscience tells us that this period is less about learning information and more about becoming ready to learn. This is because the foundations of what are called "executive functions" of the brain are laid during these years.
In other words, babies don't learn math or letters during these years; instead, they lay the foundation for learning. Just like when building a house, the foundation is laid first... Of course, if the foundation isn't solid, what you put on top of it doesn't really matter.
At the heart of this infrastructure are "executive functions." Although it sounds technical, these skills are actually integrated into everyday life. For example;
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Being able to focus attention on a toy.
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Being able to wait instead of immediately reaching for what you want.
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Trying a different approach when one thing doesn't work
The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University likens these skills to the brain's "air traffic control center." Just as chaos ensues at an airport when planes' takeoffs and landings are unregulated, thoughts and behaviors in our brains are regulated by this system. Attention, impulse control, and flexibility allow the brain to answer questions like, "When should I stop? What should I focus on? How should I change my plan?", thereby controlling our behavior.
Remember that these skills don't suddenly appear when a child starts school. On the contrary, their foundations begin to be laid in infancy, even towards the end of the first year. A baby trying to reach for a toy from a different angle when they can't reach it, pausing for a few seconds when told "No," or remembering that a hidden object is still there, shows that this control system in the brain is gradually beginning to work.
A process that begins in the first 12 months.
The first signs of executive functions begin to appear towards the end of the first year of life. Between 6 and 12 months, babies unconsciously lay the foundations for the following skills:
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Remembering that an invisible object still exists (working memory)
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Trying not to touch something you've been told not to touch (impulse control)
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Trying different ways to reach an object (cognitive flexibility)
Although these behaviors may seem simple, they are a sign that the brain's complex systems are beginning to work.
Age 3: A New Milestone
Three years old is a crucial milestone as executive functions begin to be used in a more organized way. Children at this age can now:
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You can follow both rules at the same time.
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It can maintain its attention on a specific point for a longer period of time.
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He can control his impulses, at least for a short time.
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By keeping the rules in mind, they can shape their behavior accordingly.
For example, they can follow instructions like, "Put the red ones here and the blue ones there." However, these skills are still developing. Early experiences determine how this development will unfold.
The Impact of Experiences on the Brain
The experiences a child has in their early years directly influence their development. Therefore, talking to your child, allowing them to experiment, and being there for them during play are the strongest supports for healthy brain development. Experiencing together, rather than just teaching, is key during this period.
During infancy and early childhood;
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Safe relationships,
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Repetitive daily routines,
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Movement, play, and opportunities for exploration leave lasting impressions on the brain.
The secure relationships, recurring experiences, and time spent together offered during this period lay the foundation for a child who, in later years, can focus their attention, find solutions to problems, and better manage their emotions.
In short, the first three years are a period that shapes not who a child will become, but how they will learn. The neural connections formed today influence how they will manage their attention, regulate their emotions, and approach problems in the future. Therefore, it is beneficial to view the first three years of child development not as a race to be rushed, but as a journey that requires careful guidance.
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Expert Opinion The supportive framework provided by adults (scaffolding) is crucial for children to develop skills such as impulse control, planning, and focus. This is because children are not born with these skills; they are born with the potential to develop them. |
With this perspective, we created a product that respects the child's hands, body, and mind; a product that allows them to experiment, explore, and progress at their own pace: Doodle.
With Doodle pencils, which are short and balanced to suit children's hands, you can make their first sketching experiences much more enjoyable by allowing them to progress at their own pace.
Source:
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"Building the Brain's 'Air Traffic Control' System", Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
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https://www.firstthingsfirst.org/early-childhood-matters/brain-development/