Page 3 - The First 60 Days Magazine

THE BRAIN

ADAPTS TO

REPEATED

EXPERIENCES

Because experiences have a major influence on the
way a brain develops, it wires to adapt to any
environment. A young brain will adapt to repeated
negative experiences just as easily as it will adapt to
repeated positive experiences.

For example, babies who do not receive consistent
responses to their expressed needs, or those whose
cries are met with hostility or indifference, develop
brain connections to prepare them to cope with that
type of treatment. As a result their ability to learn and
respond to nurturing and kindness, as well as their
health, may be impaired.

Infants absolutely require consistent and timely
nurturing and loving interactions for physical and
mental health development,

Prolonged, severe, or unpredictable stress without the
buffer of a nurturing responsive relationship during a
child's early months and years can contribute to
negative impacts on the child's cognitive, emotional,
and social growth.

After only eight months of experiences, an infant may
already have 1,000 trillion connections created.
Because the brain adapts to the environment, it will
continue to make and strengthen connections based
on repeated negative or repeated positive
experiences. Therefore nurturing, secure and loving
interactions are invaluable.

By Deborah McNelis, M.Ed

T H E F I R S T 6 0 D A Y S | 2