Specialists say that the first three years of life are decisive for any human being. In this interval the child receives all the emotional baggage that will carry him throughout his adult life. Also during this period, he receives the natural immunization from his mother, who will also carry it throughout his life.
In the first three years of life, the immune and emotional baggage is formed PHOTO Adevărul
The first three years of life are essential for the existence of every individual of the human species. At least that’s what specialists in several fields say. According to scientific research, 80% of a child’s brain develops in the first three years of life. Billions of neural connections are made during this period decisively influencing the child’s potential at school or in adult life. Basically, as studies show, our potential and emotional baggage is built in these three years of life. The experiences lived during this period will mark us throughout our existence.
“The first three years of life are extremely important for the child because then the neurons connect and this happens for the whole life. It is a permanent infrastructure because at the age of four the brain is changing. Neurons that have not connected will be ‘purged’ from the brain”states George C. Halvorson, author of “Three Key Years.”
And the child’s future depends on the environment in which he lives and how parents interact with their own child. And depending on how the parents handle the situation, the results can vary from a balanced child and adult to a future victim or a future aggressor. In short, the responsibility of the one who raises the child in the first three years of life is huge.
The first stage, the formation of natural immunity
It all starts with the formation of the child’s natural immunity. The simple touch of the mother’s skin transfers to the newborn part of the microbiome necessary for survival and further development.
“The fact that the newborn comes into contact with the mother’s skin leads to the formation of the first parts of the microbiome, probiotics, prebiotics, which it takes from the mother’s skin, which it begins to develop. In addition, we are talking about a special emotional attachment”, says Carmen Zaboloteanu, neonatologist. At the same time, it is preferable for a child to be breastfed. Precisely because, says the doctor, breast milk forms natural immunity, which is lifelong. “Breastfeeding is established, which lays the foundations against future diseases, strongly stimulates immunity”adds the neonatologist. The breastfed child will be less sick and will implicitly have a greater resistance to bacteria and viruses throughout life, experts add.
“It’s our emotional baggage for the rest of our lives”
Beyond the physiological part, described by neonatologists, through immunization but also the formation of neural connections explained by George Halvorson, in the first three years of life there is an emotional development that, like all the others, will influence the rest of our lives.
“The first three years of life are paramount. The first look of the mother, from the moment we appeared in the world, guides our whole life. It all depends on how we were secured by the person who took care of us, by the parents in the first three years of life. The caregiver, especially the mother, is the one who provides the child with emotional support, physical survival and all the primary needs. Only after seven does the rational part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, develop and then the child begins to develop and can have a different relationship with the environment, with nature. Until then mother is the central pillar of our human being. The first three years of life are paramount in managing trauma later as an adult. Depending on how we were looked at, how we were cared for by our parents, listened to, heard, loved, how our parents showed love. If we were embraced, if we were validated, in these first years of life, that is our emotional baggage for the rest of our adult lives. If a child was raised in a healthy, harmonious family environment, he will not have undesirable behaviors in society.”, states Felicia Mihai, specialist in social assistance.
Reading develops the child’s brain
Specialists say that parents can intervene decisively in this process of neural formation from the first three years of life through various activities. First, by reading. “Every child whose mother or father starts reading to them at an early age will have a totally different life, a totally different brain“, states George Halvorson for Unitedhealthcare.com. In addition to reading, the positive interaction of the parent with the child is important “Positive interaction with a loving, protective attitude from trusted adults helps the child develop a sense of security and emotional stability“, adds the same author. In addition to reading and interacting with the little one, singing, counting and playing are also important.
