Have you ever wondered why kids learn new languages so quickly? Or whether it’s worth serenading your pregnant belly with classical music? Or how much stress is too much for your child to handle? Science has answers, and they may surprise you. Here are three things you probably didn’t know about your kid’s gray matter – and how to capitalize on its unique composition. 

A child’s brain is uniquely primed for learning.

The science: In a child’s first years of life, 700 to 1,000 neural connections are formed each second, according to the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, and by age 3, children have 1000 trillion neuronal connections in their brains. These connections prime them to take in new information, but you have to act fast: after the first few years of life, most of these connections are gradually “pruned” away.

How to use it: Neural pathways are a use-it-or lose it proposition, HCDC warns, so exposing your child to plenty of new foods, languages, and experiences during the first three years of life may shape them into better-rounded adults. And instill good habits early. Humans are calibrated to learn and adapt throughout their lives, but it becomes increasingly difficult to alter the brain’s architecture – and the behaviors that result – as time passes and the brain becomes less sensitive to the effects of new experiences, according to HCDC.

Music is a tuning fork for little minds.

The science: According to research conducted at Northwestern University and published in the Journal of Neuroscience last year, exposure to music may help kids develop a more sophisticated response to spoken syllables. At-risk children enrolled in a music enrichment program for two years were better able distinguish between similar-sounding syllables than children enrolled for just one year. Such differentiation may help with activities such as reading and listening comprehension. 

How to use it: Starting music lessons at an early age is a fantastic way to take advantage of this cerebral quirk. And don’t insist on silence when your child is studying; play non-distracting background music and let the mental tuning begin.

Prolonged stress is toxic to developing brains.

The science: A little stress is normal and even healthy for brains, according to the HCDC. When a child is surrounded by supportive adults, the physical effects of stress are usually short-lived and teach kids the healthy stress responses they’ll need to navigate an unpredictable world. But chronically high stress levels coupled with a lack of supportive guardians may permanently damage neural connections. It’s called “toxic stress,” and it can impair health, social skills, and a child’s ability to learn.

How to use it: Maintaining a calm, predictable environment free of extremely stressful conditions such as abuse and mental illness is key, says HCDC. No need to shield your child from every little difficulty – the key is to teach kids to cope appropriately when life’s road bumps and disappointments arise. And when you can’t control the world around you, simply offer your unwavering support – this can be a vital balm in unavoidably high-stress situations.

Sources:

Harvard Center on the Developing Child:

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/key_concepts/brain_architecture/

Journal of Neuroscience, 2014:

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/36/11913.short