A child’s IQ is not fixed from birth

Dr. Jill Stamm, an internationally renowned expert in early brain development and its connection to later learning and academic achievement, is the author of, Bright from the Start, The Simple, Science-backed Way to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind from Birth to Age 3. Most importantly, she is also a mother. Dr. Stamm began her lecture sharing her journey from young mother to neuroscientist. Her first daughter, Jenny, was born prematurely with significant developmental disabilities inspiring Jill to understand her daughter’s unique brain functioning and provide the best care for her. Her second daughter, Kristin, followed in her mother’s footsteps to also become a neuroscientist. Jenny has flourished with her mother and sister’s understanding and support.

“A child’s IQ is not fixed from birth. At birth, the human brain has about 100 billion nerve cells, yet most of them are unconnected,” Stamm shared. “By three years old, a child's brain is about 90 percent of its adult size,” The neuroscientist showed how new technology of PET scans and MRIs has made it possible for researchers to finally ‘look inside the brain’ while it is at work at different stages of development and actually see how the brain processes information. “The visual system is the first system to 'wire up' and develops primarily in infancy,” she demonstrated. Following her science backed approach, the ABC’s of Attention, Bonding and Communication, parents and caregivers can learn how to interact with children to increase their ability to pay attention, be securely bonded and lay the foundations for language and literacy. “Critical studies show you cannot spoil an infant by being attentive,” she reassured the audience. “Human contact and touch promotes a sense of security and encourages healthy brain development.”

“Implementing simple strategies so that children become successful early learners eliminates the need for expensive downstream remediation,” Dr. Stamm continued. “Public investment in education is lowest in early childhood, creating a mismatch between the investments made and the opportunity for improvement. As a result, there is a great demand for expensive remedial programs to address learning and behavior problems in later years when change is far more difficult to achieve.”

http://www.betterbiz1.com/lake/lake-drive-foundation-hosts-early-brain-development-symposium-for-370-parents-and-professionals/