Stanford University

www.stanford.edu/group/hopes/basics/braintut/ab1.html

A guided tour of the human brain and its parts from Stanford University.

Developing Child Website

http://www.developingchild.net

National Scientific Council, Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University.
Chair:  Jack P. Shonkoff

This site has reliable scientific articles, reports and research. Read more

Professor Dan Siegel Seminar – March 2002

Dan Siegel is the Director of the Centre for Human Development in Los Angeles and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine.

This DVD is a three hour edited version of Professor Siegel’s last seminar in Auckland, NZ, in which he presented the most up-to-date clinical findings in brain development.
Although containing much technical information, he delivers this in a wonderfully clear and easy to understand method. 

Cost: $55 incl. GST and P&P.
To order email brainwavetrust@xtra.co.nz or phone/fax 09 5283985.

The First Years Last Forever

This short video is ideal to slot into any meeting involved with child development or to include in a training programme.
Presented by Judy Bailey, it is an excellent introduction to early brain development and its implications for society.  Attention is paid to the flow-on effects into adolescence of experiences in the first three years of life.
12 minutes in length.

Cost: $25 incl. GST, P&P. 
To order email brainwavetrust@xtra.co.nz or phone/fax 09 5283981.

The Importance of Play

The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds is a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, intended as guidance for the clinician in rendering pediatric care.  It is written by Kenneth R. Gindberg, MD, MSEd and the Committee on Communications and the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. 

Abstract 
Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social & emotional well-being of children and youth.  Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children.  Despite the benefits derived from play for both children and parents, time for free play has been markedly reduced for some children.  This report addresses a variety of factors that have reduced play, including a hurried lifestyle, changes in family structure and increased attention to academics and enrichment activities at the expense of recess or free child-centered play.  This report offers guidlelines on how pediatricians can advocate for children by helping families, school systems and communities consider how best to ensure that play is protected as they seek the balance in children’s lives to create the optimal developmental milieu.

The full report is linked here:  The Importance of Play (912)

Stages of Brain Development – from before birth to 18

The brain does not develop at an even pace.  It tends to develop in waves with different parts of the brain developing at different times.  This development takes place, however, in a predictable sequence.  Neuroscientists have shown that the brain is affected by environmental conditions throughout the entire process of development, even prior to birth.  This includes the type of nourishment, care, surroundings and stimulation the feotus or infant receives.  This article gives a fascinating summary of the development which takes place in your child’s brain a) before birth, b) during their infancy and c) beyond their third year. Read more

Early Years Study 2 – Putting Science into Action

The book linked below, dated March 2007 is authored by:

Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain
J. Fraser Mustard
Sr. Stuart Shankar

This book was published by the Council for Early Child Development, 277-401 Richmond Street West. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3A8
www.councilecd.ca
Email: cecd_general@councilecd.ca

 In an excerpt from the page, “A Message from the Authors”, J. Fraser Mustard notes:
We now understand how early child and brain development sets trajectories in the health, learning and behaviour for life.  How we apply this knowledge in our various societies will determine whether we will be successful in the 21st century.
To establish stable, prosperous, equitable societies, we have to make equality of opportunity for all young children a key policy of our societies.

To link to this study click here: fraser-mustard-margaret-mccain-early-years-study-2.pdf

What Children's Cortisol Levels Tell Us About the Quality in Childcare Centres

The excellent 40 page article linked below is sourced from the  Australian Journal of Early Childhood 30(2), 29-39

The authors are Associate Professor Margaret Sims, Dr Andrew Guilfoyle and Professor Trevor Parry.

Abstract
The Australian childcare profession has watched with some concern results of research coming out of North America, indicating that child care is not good for children.  This research identifies undesirable outcomes in children’s development and behaviour as a result of child care attendance.  How does this research apply to Australian children in Australian child care centres?  Australian research is limited and this paper reports on results to date of an Australian study of children’s biological stress levels (measured using salivary cortisol) and their relationship with quality child care service delivery.  Results demonstrate clearly that children attending high quality child care have lower stress levels across the day than children attending satisfactory or unsatisfactory programmes.  Poor quality child care is not good for children.

Click on this link to see the pdf file:  what-childrens-cortisol-levels-tell-us-about-quality.pdf