Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function - This brief reviews the research literature about the relationship between brain development and self-regulation skills and shows that such skills are foundational to school readiness and social competence. Researchers further illustrate how early experiences – whether at home or in a formal education program – can significantly shape these skills. The brief urges early education programs to more intentionally focus on self-regulation in their curriculum, professional development and assessment. (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, 2011)...

Connecting Neurons, Concepts, and People: Brain Development and its Implications - This brief explains that while brain development the brain is most malleable in the early childhood years when its processes are much more fluid and more susceptible to environmental influences and simulation -- both positive and negative. For this reason, homes and early childhood settings with interactive, responsive and engaging adults and peers contribute to healthy brain development. It also means that preventing developmental difficulties is easier when identified in younger children. (Ross Thompson, National Institute for Education Research, 2008)...