Babies are Pretty Savvy about the Physical World!

Researchers are discovering that even at a few months old, babies have a solid understanding of the way the physical world works.

For example, at a couple of months old, babies understand that objects cannot disappear or move from one spot to another on their own. Scientist suggest that they also understand physical principles such as gravity and friction.

Tests show that infants can mentally simulate possible scenarios to explain an unusual event; rather than being passive observers, babies actively try to figure out what they consider unusual in their experience of physical reality.

All the more reason to take good care of babies, nourish their bodies and their brains!

More on babies' intelligence here.

The Effects of Child Neglect on Brain Development

According to Arthur Becker-Weidman Ph.D of the Center for Family Development in Williamsville, New York, child neglect has profound effects on a child's mental and emotional development. In fact, clear links exist between neglect(and abuse) and later psychological and behavior problems.

Neglect impacts early brain development. Healthy cognitive and emotional functioning in children requires the integration of the right and left hemispheres of the brain by the corpus callosum.

This integration allows synaptic connections to be made in the developing brain - a situation that is crucial for growth and learning.

It is not surprising, then, that neglected and abused children have smaller corpus callosum and weaker integration of brain hemispheres than non-abused children.

The result is the child`s vulnerability to poor judgment, weak cause and effect thinking, poor emotional control, inability to read emotions in others as well as an inability to voice the his or her own emotions.

In the same way, Dr.Jack P. Shonkoff, pediatrician, professor and director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University states that building strong, stable protective relationships is crucial if we want children with healthy brains and bodies.

The consequences of neglect are dire because neglect by too busy or too depressed parents has serious consequences on a baby's brain development.

Neglect intensifies toxic stress - the kind that raises stress chemicals long enough to wreak long-term damage; continued toxic stress takes a tremendous toll on the baby's brain because 85% of brain development happens in the first three years of life.

In an article in the London Free Press, journalist Brian Daly states that neglect is the most common form of child mistreatment in Canada; moreover, the physical trauma of neglect can be even more devastating than sexual abuse.

The 2008 Canadian Incidence Study on Child Abuse and Neglect reveals that neglected children suffer a vareity of issues, including academic problems ( 23%), depression (19%) and aggression (15%).

Daly cite statistics that show 34% of all youth protection investigations to be cases of neglect.

More on child neglect here.