By engaging with and educating each other about the importance of the first three years, we give all New Zealand children the opportunity to reach their potential. 

A baby’s brain is unique and precious.  The way it develops will determine who he or she will become.  Genes may establish a child’s potential, however it is day-to-day experiences that will help the child to fulfil that potential.

At birth the baby’s brain is only 15% developed.  Most of a baby’s brain development actually occurs after the birth - in the first three years of life.  It is the child’s experiences during these years that enable the brain to grow.  In particular, it is relationally-rich experiences which provide children with the ‘brain-food’ they need to grow into happy, secure and well functioning adults.  Poor experiences during this time can have lasting negative effects on a child’s brain…and who they can become.

Brainwave is a charitable trust set up to use the scientific research on brain development to enable children in New Zealand to reach their full potential and to improve their wellbeing as well as that of the families and communities they are a part of.

Please explore this site - we’re putting together a fascinating selection of articles and resources.  Above all, we warmly welcome you, and invite you to make a difference!  Our email is brainwavetrust@xtra.co.nz and our postal address is P O Box 55206, Mission Bay, Auckland 1744.

Being a parent is an exciting journey, with lots of magical times and challenges. There are some things that you could think about that will make a difference to you and your child.

• Your baby will love hearing your voice. Talk, read, sing to them, even when they are really small

• You cant spoil your baby with too much love and attention. Babies cry because they have wind, or they need to eat, sleep, be soothed or changed, not because they are demanding or spoilt.

• Some babies are more unsettled than others and may need you to experiment with ways that settle them - you could try taking them for a walk, rocking, soft music, gently patting their back or singing softly to them.

• Your role as a parent is to love, teach and guide your child through to adulthood. A big part of this is helping them to explore their world, experimenting with touching, tasting, listening and watching.

• This will mean babies will try to climb things, poke their fingers where they can, taste anything that they come across, put their hands in their food and generally explore. This is good!

• You can manage all this exploring by making sure small things that your baby can choke on are put away, putting precious things up high and making sure hot things can’t be pulled off a table or stove.

• Rest when you can. This might mean you have to ask people not to visit for a while if you are getting really tired.

• Your friends and family will want to help. Ask them to take baby for a walk so you can get a bit of sleep,or they can help by making meals or hanging out the washing. They’ll all want to hold the baby - but make sure they don’t interrupt the routines you’re trying to set.

• Being a new parent means you will be learning lots of new things. Ask for help if you need it. There are people who can help - for example Plunket, your GP, other parents.

This article, written by Tracie Martin, an Infant Sleep Advisor, offers parents an understanding of the various theories surrounding the topic of infant sleep. It was first published in Pink Magazine. Tracie has kindly allowed us to make it available from our site.

The PDF will open on a blank page first, so page or scroll down to see this helpful article.

dream-babies.pdf

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 below:

importanceofplay.pdf

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.

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