The first 1000 days

Eight-month-old Lily is exploring. She reaches for a soft, crinkly book, and her little fingers grasp the pages. The book is upside down and back to front, but Lily is captivated as she explores the colours and textures. To the casual observer, she is reading a book upside down. To Lily, it’s a playful learning adventure! What Lily doesn’t know is that she is developing her visual perception, honing her auditory capabilities and investigating the beginning of literacy … and she is doing it all by herself!

This simple moment of exploration represents a crucial step in Lily's cognitive and sensory development. Not only that, but it's one of countless such moments that occur every day for her, and for all other babies in the baby room.

But these moments can only happen if we purposefully set the environment for these opportunities. If we get it right, the environments we provide will play a large part in shaping their learning opportunities.

This article delves into the latest research on early brain development and environmental design, offering evidence-based strategies for creating spaces that nurture growth during the critical first 1000 days of life.

The neuroscience of early development

Recent advances in neuroscience have revolutionised our understanding of early brain development. Research from the Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University demonstrates that in the first few years of life, more than one million new neural connections are formed every second (Centre on the Developing Child, 2016). This period of rapid brain growth forms the foundation for all future learning, behaviour, and health.

Babies need to learn everything, and the environment we provide either facilitates this learning, or it hinders it. The experiences a child has play a part in building their unique brain. These experiences are shaped by interaction with adults, the activities offered, and the environment in which they are cared for.

It's important to note that while early experiences are crucial, the brain's capacity for change decreases with age. This makes the environments we create for infants and toddlers particularly impactful, as they're setting the stage for lifelong learning and development.

Environmental influence on brain architecture

The environment plays a crucial role in shaping babies’ neural connections. Dr Sara Baker from the Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDaL) at Cambridge University notes, ‘The environment in which a child plays can significantly influence how neural connections are formed and strengthened’ (Baker et al., 2021).

For early years professionals, this means that every aspect of our baby room design –the layout, the choice of resources, the activities we do with them – can have a profound impact on infant development. Let's explore some key elements of effective baby room design.

Sensory-rich environments

Infants learn through their senses, and a sensory-rich environment can significantly enhance cognitive development. A study published in the journal ‘Infant Behaviour and Development‘ found that infants exposed to a variety of sensory experiences showed improved cognitive skills later in childhood (Lichtenwalner & Hertenstein, 2011). Those textures, colours, shakers and sparkly things are there to provide your babies with sensory opportunities.

But it doesn't stop there. if your environment is set up for safe exploration, your babies can gain sensory experiences from the simplest of things. The leaves moving on the tree outside, and the different textures of household objects can provide sensory stimulation. We practitioners must understand the importance of these tiny moments.

Opportunities for movement

The importance of physical movement in cognitive development is well-established. Research by Dr Karen Adolph at New York University shows that self-produced locomotion is linked to advances in psychological functioning across many domains (Adolph & Hoch, 2019). In other words, enabling your babies to move helps them build their brains!

Does your setting have spaces to freely move, places where babies can pull to standing, safe spaces for them to cruise, to practice those first wobbly steps? Is there place for quiet sitting and a place to dance and be exuberant? The brain loves novelty, and providing space for children to explore helps their development and ensures a calmer mind in the developing child. Understand the impact of these precious moments on a child’s development. . . your input could move them forward in their developmental journey.

Language-rich environments

Language is everything! Are your babies constantly surrounded by infant-directed conversation? Are they read to, talked with, giggled with, and brought into conversation? They may not yet be able to talk, but the language environment they are surrounded by enables them to gain the skills they need in order to thrive linguistically. So read to your babies, share books, discuss the pictures, label the things they are playing with, provide them with narrations of the things you are doing. Engage them in your activities, and leave space for their returned interactions. These social back-and-forth opportunities help babies learn not only the language they’re engaged in, but also more about their society and how they fit into it.

Create social spaces that enable babies to enjoy cosy one-to-one conversations, and spaces that enable small group activities. Make sure the furniture is accessible to the children: sturdy, safe, and comfortable to share with a friend. The social interactions that will naturally follow will help develop the children’s language skills.

Calculated risk-taking

Safety is paramount, but it's also important to allow for appropriate risk-taking. Dr Ellen Sandseter's research on risky play suggests that children need to encounter calculated risks in order to develop their own risk-taking abilities. (Sandseter & Kennair, 2011). Providing graduated challenges in your baby room like gentle slopes, climbing frames, and small steps enable babies and toddlers to take on small manageable challenges that promote their development, confidence and understanding.

Flexibility and responsiveness

As Dr Jenny Gibson from PEDaL points out, ‘Children's play is inherently unpredictable’ (Gibson et al., 2017). Therefore, make sure your baby room can go with that unpredictability! No one wants to be restricted by their environment; make sure your furniture moves. Create spaces that can be quickly and easily changed, and where possible, provide easy access to outside spaces. Be sure to highlight the importance of flexibility to your staff.

Natural elements and outdoor experiences

Emerging research suggests that exposure to natural elements can have significant benefits for young children. A study published in the journal ‘Environment and Behaviour’ found that even brief exposure to nature can improve attention and cognitive function in young children (Dadvand et al., 2015). If the outside space isn't easy to access, potted plants, large, smooth pebbles, and other natural elements can provide some inside nature. (Just be certain that they are all safe for being around babies and their sensitive skin, and aren’t too small that they can be popped into mouths!)

Recent studies have further emphasised the crucial role of nature in children's cognitive and emotional development. Regular nature experiences are now considered essential for holistic development and mental wellbeing. Where possible, try to incorporate outdoor experiences into your daily routines, even if it's just a short time in a garden or nearby green space. It’s too easy to avoid outside time with babies just because it’s hard to get them all out there. The benefits outweigh these challenges!

Creating responsive environments

Remember, the ‘serve and return’ relationship between children and their caregivers is crucial for proper brain development. Your baby room should facilitate these interactions. Ensure comfortable adult seating is dispersed throughout the space to encourage caregivers to engage with infants during both structured activities and free play.

It's also important to be aware of potential stressors in the environment. Chronic, unrelieved stress in early childhood can be toxic to the developing brain and lead to lifelong problems in learning, behaviour, and health. Ensure your baby room has quiet, calming spaces where children can retreat if they feel overwhelmed.

Environment is important, but the input of practitioners is vital. Having staff who understand child development transforms a baby room from functional to fabulous. 

Conclusion

Creating spaces for children can be exciting and fun, but too often the design is driven by aesthetic and Pinterest. By designing our baby rooms based on scientific evidence, we can create environments that truly support and enhance infant development. When fabulous playful adventures in learning are aided by professionals who understand play for development, we provide our babies with opportunities for brain building that lasts well beyond the early years.

References

Adolph, K. E., & Hoch, J. E. (2019). Motor development: Embodied, embedded, enculturated, and enabling. Annual review of psychology, 70, 141-164.

Baker, S., Gibson, J., & Leekam, S. (2021). Everyday behaviours in early childhood: The importance of context and practice. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 114, 103983.

Centre on the Developing Child (2016). From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts: A Science-Based Approach to Building a More Promising Future for Young Children and Families. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University.

Dadvand, P., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., Esnaola, M., Forns, J., Basagaña, X., Alvarez-Pedrerol, M., ... & Sunyer, J. (2015). Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(26), 7937-7942.

Gibson, J. L., Cornell, M., & Gill, T. (2017). A systematic review of research into the impact of loose parts play on children's cognitive, social and emotional development. School mental health, 9(4), 295-309.

Kuhl, P. K. (2007). Is speech learning 'gated' by the social brain? Developmental science, 10(1), 110-120.

Lichtenwalner, M., & Hertenstein, M. J. (2011). Sensory stimulation and its impact on brain development. Infant Behaviour and Development, 34(3), 360-366.

Sandseter, E. B. H., & Kennair, L. E. O. (2011). Children's risky play from an evolutionary perspective: The anti-phobic effects of thrilling experiences. Evolutionary psychology, 9(2), 147470491100900212.

Shonkoff, J. P., & Phillips, D. A. (2000). From neurons to neighbourhoods: The science of early childhood development. National Academy Press.