Researchers at the University of Wyoming have made what they describe as a “breakthrough” in understanding how sensory experiences during early life promote the formation of fine connections in the brain, paving the way for development of interventions to treat disease and trauma…

“They have found that the sensory cortex, which is the part of the brain most responsive to environmental cues, undergoes drastic structural and physiological changes during a very short time period during postnatal development,” Sun says. “These large changes can occur within less than three days during a critical period in mouse development, which is equivalent to a few months in humans and primates.” …
“If we can understand how an enriched environment may accelerate brain maturation, we could theoretically design a drug that improves human intelligence. Similar drugs could also be used to treat neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or improve the memory capacity of normal individuals,” Sun says.

Source: Physorg.com
http://www.physorg.com/news80400003.html

Today’s public education system essentially tells parents: “This is the school your child will attend. This is when we teach, what we teach and who will teach.” In short, it puts the system ahead of the child.

We need an education environment that listens and responds when a parent says: “This is my child; these are my hopes and dreams for my child, his needs and interests, his strengths and weaknesses. Why should I entrust my child to your care?” We need educational opportunities that put the child first…

To move us in the right direction, we need to toss aside certain assumptions. First, we must not confuse education with schooling. Education takes place long before a child enters school and lasts a lifetime. Schooling is about institutions and infrastructure. We need to focus on education in America, not just schooling…

Gradually, families might begin to take back ownership of their children’s education. Ownership is essential, giving a sense of authority that could drive ongoing improvement in education. The relationship of family, child and education is direct and tangible, rather than distorted by the demands of a system.

Source: Washington Post
http://tinyurl.com/22calm

Research shows that 80 percent of brain development happens before children reach age 5, when they’re eligible to enter a public kindergarten program. Colorado teachers report one-third of kids enter kindergarten unprepared to learn. Once those kids fall behind, they rarely catch up, limiting not only their own educational achievement but holding back other students who must wait while teachers understandably devote special attention to their needs…

The social and educational value of preschool is undisputed. Study after study shows that preschool provides IQ gains, positively impacts language skills and behavior, and lowers rates of special education needs.

Source: Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4556683

… Analyzing data from a series of long-term studies, a band of scientists, educators, and economists say that aggressive preschool training for children from troubled homes yields extraordinary dividends for the families and society. Waiting until elementary school or later doesn’t pay off. With an early start, “all the evidence says that we can reduce inequality, and it’s economically efficient,” says James J. Heckman, Nobel laureate and economist at the University of Chicago…

“The research is overwhelming,” says Arthur J. Rolnick, director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and an enthusiastic supporter of such programs. “It all comes down to “the earlier, the better.’” …

Advocates of early intervention find support on the cutting edge of neuro-biology. It turns out the architecture of an animal’s brain is shaped powerfully by events early in life.

Source: BusinessWeek
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_43/b4006099.htm?chan=search

Up to 50 per cent of toddlers and preschool children prone to persistent aggression or tantrums are likely to have mental health problems requiring professional help, a report by the Centre for Community Child Health at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne has warned.

Even at this early stage in their lives, environmental factors such as financial disadvantage, more than genetics, are determining their mental health, centre director Frank Oberklaid said.

“Experiences in the early years shape the development of young children’s brains in ways that have long-lasting effects,” Professor Oberklaid said.

Source: The Australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20640478-2702,00.html

In a case that has been closely watched by anti-circumcision groups nationwide, a Cook County judge ruled Tuesday that the medical benefits of the procedure are not clear enough to compel a 9-year-old Northbrook boy to be circumcised against his will.
The boy’s mother and her new husband had claimed the operation was necessary to prevent recurrent episodes of redness and discomfort. The boy’s father sought a court order barring the circumcision, which he called an “unnecessary amputation.” …

“The injury to the child as a result of an unnecessary circumcision would be irreversible,” Kaplan wrote, adding that his order would remain in effect until the boy turns 18 and can decide for himself whether or not he wants to undergo the procedure.

Source: Chicago Tribune
http://tinyurl.com/2wh3rk

Therapists are increasingly moving their treatments from the couch to the crib. While the field of infant mental health - which encompasses the study of children from birth through age three - has been around for decades, new research on everything from brain development to maternal depression is giving it a boost…

By starting treatment as soon as possible - even before their patients are out of diapers - doctors feel they are helping kids become better adjusted. But the field is also getting a push from anxious parents, who are increasingly eager to catch serious problems, such as autism or anxiety disorders, in their children as early as possible. Indeed, doctors are finding that they can recognize the signs of some of these problems earlier - sometimes in infants as young as one…

The growth in the field comes as experts increasingly demonstrate that the emotional and social development of young children is every bit as important as their motor and cognitive development. “Those first few years are unprecedented in the life cycle for how rapidly the changes occur, as well as for the complexity of the changes,” says Charles Zeanah, a professor of psychiatry at Tulane University, and author of the “Handbook of Infant Mental Health.” “The experiences that young children have are very important.” …

Since then, research has shown that a baby’s environment affects both its psychology and its neurobiology. If a mother is depressed, for example, her baby may become listless and nonresponsive. Additionally, studies show that negative experiences during infancy can alter brain chemistry. Experts understand that many adult disorders - such as depression, anxiety or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder - start in childhood, and increasingly can recognize them as early as late infanthood or early toddlerhood.

Source: azcentral.com
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1024wsj-infant-psychotherapy24-ON.html

When Chinese parents rushed to give birth in what was considered the doubly-auspicious millennium and lunar dragon year in 2000, they might not have anticipated that their “lucky babies” would face such an ordeal to get into schools…

Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show that about 36 million babies were born that year, far higher than the 19.09 million in 1999 and 17.02 million in 2001.
The large number of “millennium babies” have exerted enormous pressure on schools, as resources such as teachers and equipment are limited…

Experts also warn that problems may accompany the children throughout their lives including entry to middle schools and colleges; as well as finding jobs.

However, it seems that couples have not taken heed of the emerging problems from the baby boom, as a large number plan to have babies next year, the Year of the Pig in the Chinese zodiac, which is also considered lucky…

Xu Doudou, a sociologist at Fuzhou University, said couples should avoid blind faith in the so-called “golden pig” year, and consider their health and other circumstances before they decide to have a baby.

Source: CHINAdaily
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-10/25/content_716103.htm

Chung spent the early years of her education in traditional Chinese schools where, she said, from first grade on students deal with the pressures of midterms, finals and class rankings that were used as opportunities for parents to boast about their children’s success…

“It wasn’t about going to school and finger painting. It was about studying,” she said.
Recreational activities were not emphasized the way they are in U.S schools. During exam time, the few recreational outlets students had, such as physical education, would be “sacrificed” in favor of studying sessions, she said…

In contrast to traditional Chinese school, where there was “no time to slack off,” and the atmosphere was intensely competitive, Chung said her school in Canada was relaxed and more about trying out various areas of study and extracurricular activities…

Chung also faced a situation familiar to many new students, international or not: discovering that she was no longer the smartest student in class.

“I didn’t expect UCLA to be so challenging,” she said. “I have to work really hard just to be mediocre.”

Source: Daily Bruin
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=38562

The conversion in fall 2007 means the school at 710 W. 18th St. will continue to teach all core subjects to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. But all learning will relate to math, science and technology in a way intended to prepare young minds with skills in research, teamwork and problem-solving…

“This would be inquiry-based learning,” said Wade Helleson, a third-grade teacher at Lowell and a supporter of the conversion. “Reading could be for research. Practicing math skills could tie in with a project you’re doing.”

Children still will finger-paint, write poetry and play kickball. But the intent is to run every class through a science, math and technology filter.

“It’ll better prepare kids for careers they’ll have in the future,” Helleson said.

Source: ArgusLeader.com
http://tinyurl.com/39h6dl