Positive experiences and environments are critical to their healthy development.

Recent research on the brain development of young children demonstrates that positive experiences and environments are critical to their healthy development. This raises the question about how best to promote the cognitive, social and emotional development for children.

A baby's brain is only 40 percent developed at birth, so brain growth during the early years is very robust. In the first month alone, the connections between the 100 billion brain cells have increased 20-fold to about 1,000 trillion.
Linda Craven: Early experiences have lifelong impact on child's brain
Statesman's Journal, Oregan. December 20, 2009
Linda Craven of Silverton is the program chair and faculty member of the Early Childhood Education department at Chemeketa Community College.

The massive neuron in a baby's brain sets the stage for wiring (learning) to take place upon stimulation from human interaction. Playgroups provide positive experiences and environment for babies to grow up.