Question

REVIEW: How do overproduction of synapses and synaptic pruning support infants’ and children’s ability to learn?

REFLECT: Suppose you were seeking a child-care setting for your baby. What would you want it to be like, and why?

Answer 1

1. In the early and middle childhood, the brain forms and refines a complex network of connections through thre processes which are synaptogenesis, pruning, and myelination. Pruning is a key process that shapes the brains of infnats. Synaptic overproduction causes synapses to develop extremely rapidly and thus aids in instant learning. There is a massive overabundance of synapses in order to ensure acquisition of skills, and pruning occurs to allow for the loss of synapses that are seldom used and allow development of more important skills in the future.

2. A child care setting is designed to take care of the children. If I was seeking for a child-care setting, I would want the folllowing characteristics in it:

• Healthy and clean environment (I don't want the place my child being raised at to be filthy and not clean)
• Safe environment (I don't want anyone there who could potentially harm my child)
• Exeprienced workers (I want the day care workers to know what they are doing, and be helpful when dealing with the care of my child)
• I want at least 3-4 other kids (my child's age) there to be playmates with him/her.
• I want the center to be located no more than 8 miles from where I live. I don't want to drive more than 20 minutes to the center.