Very Early Childhood Education

There has been quite a bit of debate over the years about just how early in their development babies can begin to learn. Many doctors and scientists believe that stimulation beginning as early as the third month of pregnancy can have a significant benefit on the development of a child. So if you are concerned about your baby getting a good start in its intellectual and emotional life, you may want to consider what he/she is hearing, feeling or even seeing throughout your pregnancy.

Prenatal stimulation encourages mental and sensory development using a variety of stimuli including movement, pressure, vibrations and light to communicate with the baby before birth. Perhaps the most important of all stimuli is sound. Everything from music to the reassurance of a mother’s voice can have an effect on developing babies. Babies exposed to this kind of stimulation often have enhanced visual, auditory, linguistic and motor development. They may sleep better, be more alert and less prone to crankiness than infants who were not stimulated.

The benefits of stimulation, while sometimes disputed, can range anywhere from increased confidence to more successful breastfeeding to stronger bonding between baby and family. Babies who experience prenatal stimulation have been shown to score higher on most scales which record neurological and behavioral development and children who were stimulated as babies even tend to have higher IQ’s. Prenatal stimulation can also be an important developmental tool for parents, helping them learn how to provide a safe, loving, supportive environment for their children.

While babies can begin to benefit from stimulation as early as three months, it is important to introduce new stimuli only after the baby has developed enough to respond. Sensory and motor skills develop at different times throughout pregnancy, so be sure to take things slowly and not introduce too many stimuli too quickly. Most babies develop hearing in the fifth month, so this is the best time to introduce sound related stimulus by playing music for the baby or talking to it.

Relaxing and listening to music yourself can also be beneficial to your baby. Mothers and their babies share hormones, so even in the earliest stages of pregnancy, your baby will respond to your emotional state. The more calm and peaceful you are, the more likely that your baby will be happy and content.

While questions still remain about the overall effectiveness of prenatal stimulation, as long as it is practiced in moderation there should be no reason for concern. Good communication is the key to a happy, well balanced life for all of us, so it can never really begin too soon.