Early Brain and Child Development

Pediatric healthcare practitioners have long recognized the importance of early brain and child development, particularly prenatal development through age 3. In addition to laying the building blocks for lifelong learning, responsible citizenship, and economic productivity, these early years lay the foundation for physical and mental health across the lifespan. In this section you’ll find resources to learn about early brain and child development, how brains are built, and how the brain is connected to the rest of the body.

Resources


Early Brain and Child Development 101: Why Peekaboo Matters
Handout

Early Brain and Child Development 101: Why Peekaboo Matters

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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Reading

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

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A Guide to Serve and Return: How Your Interaction with Children Can Build Brains
Third Party Link

A Guide to Serve and Return: How Your Interaction with Children Can Build Brains

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Key Concepts: Brain Architecture
Third Party Link

Key Concepts: Brain Architecture

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InBrief: The Foundations of Lifelong Health
Brief

InBrief: The Foundations of Lifelong Health

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The Foundations of Lifelong Health Are Built in Early Childhood 
Reading

The Foundations of Lifelong Health Are Built in Early Childhood 

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InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development
Brief

InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development

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InBrief: Early Childhood Mental Health
Brief

InBrief: Early Childhood Mental Health

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Establishing a Level Foundation for Life: Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood
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Establishing a Level Foundation for Life: Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood

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Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships
Working Paper

Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships

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Children’s Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of their Brain
Working Paper

Children’s Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of their Brain

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Early Exposure to Toxic Substances Damages Brain Architecture 
Working Paper

Early Exposure to Toxic Substances Damages Brain Architecture 

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The Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture
Working Paper

The Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture

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Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development
Working Paper

Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development

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Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined
Working Paper

Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined

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Building Babies’ Brains Through Play: Mini Parenting Master Class
Third Party Link

Building Babies’ Brains Through Play: Mini Parenting Master Class

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Experiences Build Brain Architecture
Third Party Link

Experiences Build Brain Architecture

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InBrief: Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body
Brief

InBrief: Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body

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FrameWorks: Framing Early Relational Health
Third Party Link

FrameWorks: Framing Early Relational Health

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8 Things to Remember about Child Development
Article

8 Things to Remember about Child Development

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FrameWorks: Framing How Brains are Built
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FrameWorks: Framing How Brains are Built

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Epigenetics and Child Development: How Children’s Experiences Affect their Genes
Infographic

Epigenetics and Child Development: How Children’s Experiences Affect their Genes

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