Brain development is the foundation for learning A child’s brain is not a smaller version of an adult brain. It is a dynamic organ undergoing rapid structural and functional change. Neurons form circuits, synapses are created and refined, white matter…

Toddler learning: movement, language, and cause and effect Between about 1 and 3 years, learning is intensely physical and relational. Toddlers use their bodies to test the world: climbing, carrying, stacking, dumping, scribbling, running, and eventually jumping or hopping attempts.…

Learning begins before words: birth to 12 months In infancy, learning is sensory, relational, and motor-based. Babies learn through repeated cycles of looking, listening, touching, mouthing, moving, and receiving caregiver responses. A newborn does not need formal teaching; the infant…

What early learning means in toddlerhood Early learning refers to the cognitive, language, motor, emotional, and social foundations that develop before and during the toddler years. In a 1- to 3-year-old, learning is rarely separated into school-like subjects. A toddler…

What independent sleep skills mean Independent sleep skills refer to a child’s ability to fall asleep, and later return to sleep after normal night wakings, with less active help from a caregiver. This may include lying in a safe sleep…

Sleep training and sleep habits are not the same goal Sleep training usually refers to a structured behavioral approach that helps a baby learn to fall asleep with less caregiver intervention. Methods vary widely: graduated checks, sometimes called the Ferber…

What a bedtime routine is and why it matters A bedtime routine is a repeated sequence of calming activities that happens in roughly the same order before sleep. It might include bathing, brushing teeth, changing into pajamas, reading, cuddling, a…

Why teen sleep becomes difficult Teen sleep problems often begin with a normal developmental change: the circadian system shifts later during puberty. Melatonin secretion tends to occur later in the evening, making many adolescents feel alert when younger children or…

How much sleep teens need Most adolescents ages 13 to 18 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Some clinical experts describe the optimal target for many teens as around 9 to 9.5 hours, especially during periods of…

Why teenagers are biologically prone to sleep deprivation Teen sleep deprivation begins with a mismatch between biology and schedule. Around puberty, the circadian system commonly shifts later, a pattern often called adolescent circadian delay. Melatonin secretion tends to begin later…