Hey, let's chat about your kid's brain! Here are 4 fascinating things you should know that will make you appreciate the importance of a loving and respectful relationship between parents/caregivers and kids during those crucial early years

1. The human brain experiences its most rapid growth during the first few years of life, but it is not fully formed until the mid-20s. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning, problesolving, and impulse control, is not fully developed until around age 25.
2. The prefrontal cortex is also responsible for emotional regulation, and this part of the brain just starts to become mature from 3 to 4 years old. That means your child may not be able to calm down easily as you wish, and for this reason, parenting can be a challenging job during the early years. It requires patience and love
3. Kids who receive more attention and affection can develop better neurons, making the myelin stronger. Positive experiences such as play, nurturing, and attention can help strengthen neural connections in the brain, leading to better emotional and cognitive development.
4. Physical punishment can be very damaging to a kid's brain, affecting the memory and the capacity to learn. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, can have a profound impact on the brain's structure and function, leading to a higher risk of mental health issues, substance abuse, and chronic diseases in adulthood

Understanding the child's brain development is a complex and fascinating process. Positive experiences such as attachment, affection, and play can help strengthen neural connections, while adverse childhood experiences and physical punishment can have long-lasting negative effects on brain development. This information was gathered from various books, including "The Whole Brain Child," "Why Love Matters," and "The Adverse Childhood Experiences". I was inspired by the words of Brazilian author Maya Eigenmann, who wrote "A raiva não educa. A calma educa" or "Anger doesn't educate. Calmness does" (free translation).

Children need guidance brushing their teeth until about the age of seven. How can we make sure they are learning and doing it correctly? With your support and good example, parents can introduce healthy dental habits that will last a lifetime

Dentists recommend using a fluoride toothpaste as soon as you can see their little tiny teeth showing, in most cases around six months old. Brush twice a day, after breakfast and before bedtime. However, this could change depending on your family's daily routines.

 As well as starting early, we must make it fun! Nursery rhymes can be the answer to it. Sing with them, "this is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth". Having a good time while doing something that could be a chore will be encouraging and also help them remember the moves in the following days. In no time, your little ones will beg to brush their teeth once again.

Remember, children love to imitate the actions of adults, so why not take advantage of this by brushing your teeth together? By showing them how you brush your teeth, you can help them develop good oral hygiene habits and make brushing a fun activity they will look forward.

I hope these tips will help you and your little ones have a blast while learning! Thanks for checking them out. Thank you for taking the time to read them :)