Families For Life | Learning in the Baby to Preschool Years-Toddlers

Did you know? In the first three years of a child’s life, over one million neural connections form in the brain every second. During this crucial period, early experiences and environments shape their cognitive, language and social-emotional growth. This is particularly true of the child’s relationships with their primary caregivers, including parents and educators.

Caregivers must provide a nurturing environment that meets the child’s individual needs and interests, says Ms Karyn Phua, a lecturer at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (Temasek Polytechnic Campus). “It is about understanding and appreciating that a child develops at a pace unique to them,” she explains. “Rushing them to achieve quick results beyond what they are capable of may impact their curiosity and motivation to learn and create stress.”

Read on for tips to support children from birth to age three — from Ms Phua and early childhood educators, Ms Annie Tan (My First Skool) and Ms Sherlyn Ho (Little Seeds Preschool).