At birth, the baby is genetically programmed to learn. He then has multiple capacities that are still immature.
From his basics, he can learn by experimenting with his environment. These experiences will shape his brain. This is called brain plasticity . It is the brain's ability to reshape neural connections based on interactions with its environment. New experiences are at the origin of the appearance of new neural networks : manifests of new learning. If a neural circuit is not stimulated, it will disappear and the child will lose one of its potentialities. This mechanism allows him to sort between useful capacities and accessories. Indeed, this is not the quantity of connections that matters, but their relevance and efficiency.
" From conception, the baby's brain is genetically determined and programmed to interact, understand and learn "
THE " early skills of the infant are the abilities it has at birth, without prior learning. However, they are immature and to become concrete, they require that the baby exchanges with his peers, that he maintains quality relationships with loved ones and that he interacts with its environment. We are talking of an acquisition process . Brain plasticity allows the reorganization and strengthening of pre-existing neural networks. A distinction is made between acquisition and learning . Acquisition deals with skills present from birth while learning includes skills that are not initially programmed into the brain.
In fact, the human brain has evolved very little since prehistoric times. However, if a child prehistory was unable to read, whereas today almost all 7-year-old children are able to do so, it is the fruit of our environment, our culture and the knowledge transmitted from generation to generation . The brain did not have time to adapt to this recent knowledge (reading, calculation, etc. ) which therefore require a learning special. They are not part of our genetic heritage : learning generates new connections neuronal.
Intelligence is built according to various factors: genetic, environmental, personal, cognitive coordination, etc. The innate and the acquired are in constant reciprocal interaction. To oppose them would not make sense insofar as the two co -evolve perpetually depending on interactions with the environment throughout our lives. By therefore, education And the environment family that we offer to our children are crucial elements for their allow them to develop their capacities in an optimal way.
" The constant interactions between pre-existing brain organization and the environment will allow these major changes in the early years, and to a lesser degree, throughout life. »
In addition, certain periods are more propitious than others to integrate certain capacities, they are called "the sensitive periods in Montessori education. Our role as parents is therefore to identify these phases, and to offer a suitable and quality environment to the child to enable him to learn as effectively as possible.
“ Adequate education promotes the emergence of these potentialities, amplifies them, improving their efficiency and authorizing high-level and quality learning. »
Source :
- In my child's brain, the neuroscience revolution: all the development of children from 0 to 6 years old , Michèle Mazeau and Alain Pouhet, Horay, 2018.