Brain Development

Our Brain Waves™ Exclusive Curriculum

The first five years of your child’s life is a critical time when their brain is developing and brain cells are forming connections for learning and future success in school.

During these early years, the experiences and interactions your child has will determine which brain cells are activated and which ones are pruned away from lack of stimulation.

Your child’s learning environment has tremendous impact on brain development.
At Kids ‘R’ Kids, we use strategies from our Brain Waves™ curriculum to support neural pathways for language, social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development during these critical years.

Ten Important Brain Facts Parents Should Know

1. The first brain cell is born two days after conception and two weeks after conception it is expanding at 500,000 cells a minute.
2. At birth the brain will have 100 billion neurons, only 17% are activated.
3. The brain activates from the bottom to the top and from the back to the front.
4. Each brain cell has a short and finite time frame in which it can be activated. If the individual cell does not get activated within that time frame, it dies and will never be replaced.
5. 80 billion of the 100 billion total cells are activated or die before the child reaches their 6th birthday.
6. Each activated brain cell can maintain between 10,000 and 15,000 synapses or connections to other brain cells. Each cell we activate creates a huge multiplier effect on the future success of the child.
7. The brain produces 800 neurological connections for every second it is properly stimulated.
8. Repetition is key to brain development. The more times a child hears a correct answer the stronger the neural pathway.
9. Social and emotional pathways are cemented after a single occurrence while things such as colors, shapes, letters and numbers require hundreds of repetitions to create the link.
10. Newly formed synapses are very fragile. They get cemented during sleep. Enough sleep is absolutely critical for proper brain development.

Our BrainWaves Curriculum begins with activities specifically created to stimulate and activate brain cells in all four separate regions or lobes of the brain. These activities have been designed for infants, toddlers and pre schoolers. Our curriculum provides for the perfect mix of interactive play and materials to stimulate development through repetition and by utilizing all five senses. Birth through age five is the most important time in your child's life for brain development. That development will be maximized through the activities we have developed in our cutting edge Brain Waves Curriculum.

Brain Development the Kids ‘R’ Kids Way

Our philosophy is “Hug First, Then Teach” as we understand that secure and safe emotional attachment is vital for the growth and development of your child’s brain. Our classrooms are filled with stimulating materials that allow teachers to facilitate children’s exploration through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch as these sensory experiences send information directly to the brain and form the platform for healthy brain growth.

We understand that each child is unique, so our teachers cater to different interests and learning styles. From infancy, your child will be exposed to many forms of language (including sign-language), and immersed in an environment rich in language and literacy. Our learning stations are filled with math manipulatives, science elements, and stimulating visuals that support brain pathways for cognitive development. Problem solving is considered one of the best ways to support brain development, so our teachers conduct activities to help children explore cause and effect and employ questioning strategies that promote higher level thinking.

Technology and the Brain

Technology is everywhere, so children need healthy exposure to be prepared for life in the 21st century. Research shows, however, that hours of exposure to digital technology can lead to over stimulation of the brain, fatigue, and irritability. At Kids ‘R’ Kids, we take a balanced approach to technology. Our curriculum has been integrated with ABCmouse, one of the latest early childhood technology tools, to enhance learning. With the guidance of a teacher, children engage in digital activities that build language, math, science, and fine motor skills.

Maximizing your Child’s Mental Capacity

We believe in a nurturing learning environment, hands-on play, and novel experiences that ignite your child’s curiosity. With our exclusive Brain Waves™ curriculum and quality teachers, our goal is to provide stimulating experiences that support brain development and maximize your child’s mental capacity.