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Children's Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of their Brains (PDF)
By National Scientific Council on the Developing Child , Ed.
Working Paper, 2; Winter, 2004

Summary: This working paper discusses the growing number of studies that indicate emotional development begins early in life and is a critical aspect of the development of overall brain architecture. From birth, children rapidly develop their abilities to experience and express different emotions, as well as their capacity to cope with and manage a variety of feelings. By the end of the preschool years, children who have acquired a strong emotional foundation have the capacity to anticipate, talk about, and use their awareness of their own and others’ feelings to better manage everyday social interactions. Implications for policy are outlined that affect the health and well-being of young children based on the research on early childhood development. All early childhood programs, including Head Start, must balance their focus on cognition and literacy skills with significant attention to social and emotional development. Providers of early care and education must have sufficient knowledge and skills to help children who present common behavior problems early on, particularly those who exhibit significant aggression or difficulties with attention and hyperactivity. Contains 64 references.

Index Terms: Brain Development, Early Childhood Intervention, Emotional Development, Behavior Disorders, Child Development, Young Children

Publication Type: Reports (Research/technical)

Pages: 14 pages
Language: English
URL: http://www.developingchild.net/pubs/wp/Childrens_Emotional_Development_Architecture_Brains.pdf

Availability
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
Harvard University
50 Church Street, 4th Floor
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
617-496-0578
FAX: 617-496-1229
info@developingchild.net

 
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