Question

a- why having rich experiences about the world is crucial in the first two years of life?

b- provide examples for experience-expectant brain function and experience-dependent brain function

Answer 1

a

The rich experiences are very crucial in the first 2 years as it helps in sensory adaptation and makes the cognitive abilities ready for the next stages. The understanding and how to use the body in order to explore the environment is learned and understood. Toddler observes what is going around and try to initiate some actions within themselves. For instance, If he sees parents talking, then he starts to babble sounds which later becomes language development.

b

Examples of experience-expectant brain function

• Baby able to recognize the sound of dog and he quickly crawls towards it
• Baby tries to repeat 'MAMA' when the mom repeatedly says 'MAMA'

Examples of  experience-dependent brain function

• The child is learning Spanish as that is the only language spoken in the house.
• Child has become expert in fishing as his father has trained him in that.