Brain Development Bags: Designing Tools to Engage Parents in Early Childhood Neurodevelopment Through Play

Abstract

Background The physical and mental development of a child is greatly affected by early life experiences. Eighty percent of brain volume is formed from birth to three years of age with 700-1000 neuronal connections forming every second. During this critical time period of brain development, children are exceedingly responsive to environmental stimuli. Research shows that active engagement and a responsiveness to a child’s needs by a caregiver positively shapes the brain architecture and builds neuronal connections necessary for the development of cognitive skills. This model for increased cognitive performance, called …