nursery neuroscience: why you matter how services grow brains · university of dundee east lothian...
TRANSCRIPT
Nursery Neuroscience:How services grow brains
Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk
School of Psychology
University of Dundee
East Lothian Early Years Conference
March 2011
Why You Matter
Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk
School of Psychology
University of Dundee
East Lothian Early Years Conference
March 2011
Our path today
1. Infants come into the world already connected to others.
2. Infants’ brains & bodies are shaped by
the connection they feel from others.
3. We suffer as a society when children
(and grown ups) don’t feel connected.
With thanks to my
students & colleagues
Michelle ONeill Louise Carolan John Carnochan Mandy Yilmaz George Hosking Karyn McCluskey
Cliff Davies Margaret Duncan Marji HendersonPhoebe Caldwell Irene Werritty Sharon DoughtyPete Coia Sarah Parry Vasu ReddyHannah Young Myshi Mackenzie Heidi Keller
Emese Nagy Colwyn Trevarthen Rona Dolev
1. Babies arrive already connected to other people.
DeCasper, A. J., & Spence, M. J. (1986). Prenatal maternal speech influences newborns' perception of speech sounds. Infant Behavior and Development, 9, 133-150.
Hepper, P.G. (1988) Fetal soap addiction. Lancet. 1347-1348.
Source: Meltzoff & Moore, 1977
Source: Field et al, 1982
If you want more of this sort of stuff ! ☺
Film: The Connected Baby
Website & Research Updates
2. The development of children’s
brains and bodies is shaped by that
social connectedness.
At birth:the most immature
of the body’s organs.
Age 1:has attained 70%
of final mass.
Age 3: has attained 90%
of final mass
Birth. 15 months. 2 years.
All human infants are born ‘premature’ = Neoteny
Brain as transport system…
…built for a particular weather system… …we all suffer if others create storms. (Which they will do if that’s what’s familiar for them.)
Construct system: Birth – 3 yrs
Set up the basic transport system.
Embed system: Primary Years
Put in the cats eyes, barricades, & signage.
Rewire system: Adolescence
Major roadworks & reconstruction. Chaos!
Predictability !
vs.
Unpredict
ability
!
Empathy
Birth Birth –– 2 yrs2 yrs
Attunement FROMothers
Attunement TO
others
• KOTALUK BOOK The effect of environmental
deprivation to a baby is just as physical as a blow on the head.
(pg. xi)
Cortisol
The fear hormone = Stress
Cortisol puts a brake on other body systems:
- relaxation
- immune system
- learning
because the body believes it is in crisis.
Cortisol
The fear hormone = Stress
Cortisol puts a brake on other body systems:
- relaxation
- immune system
- learning
because the body believes it is in crisis.
Stress!!
“The human
baby is
incomplete.
It arrives
ready to be
programmed
by adults.”
2005
Oxytocin
The love hormone = Relax
Oxytocin relaxes all body systems:
- more receptive to others
- more welcoming to others
- calmer physiological system
because the body feels safe.
Oxytocin
The love hormone = Relax
Oxytocin relaxes all body systems:
- more receptive to others
- more welcoming to others
- calmer physiological system
because the body feels safe.
Cuddles!!
Tapping the Hormone of
Calm, Love, and Healing
“Oxytocin is
likely to lie at
the heart of
human
empathy.”
2003
The
OxytocinFactor
Tapping the Hormone of
Calm, Love, and Healing
“Oxytocin is
likely to lie at
the heart of
human
empathy.”
2003
The
OxytocinFactor
Cuddle Circles
inDundee nurseries
3. We suffer as a society when infants – and grown ups –
don’t feel connected.
££
Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.
Police
Violence Reduction Unit, Strathclyde Police
www.actiononviolence.co.uk 2005
Care System – Fostering & Adoption
Two young brothers have appeared in
court accused of
torturing and attempting to kill two
boys in a horrific
case which has shocked the UK.
There was no sign of the boys' mum and
dad in court,
although their foster parents were in
attendance.
Nursery - Childminding
“That small children need to have secondary
attachments during any
non-parental care is a biological imperative that
is not universally
understood and which does not always sit
comfortably with our
political, financial or social aspirations. I fear that
stress in daycare with
“strangers” has become a contributing factor to the
educational, behavioural
and mental health problems of many
troubled children.”
Special Needs
Special Needs
A baby’s day…
MealtimesReading
TelevisionSleeping Arrangements
2010 2010
Separating babies fro
m mothers at n
ight –
An ‘unusual’ cultu
ral practic
e! (pg. 162)
Baby Buggies
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/pushchairs_research.html
Was there a difference in infant vocalisations?:
No. infants who laughed
p<.05
Infant laughter
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Aw ay Tow ard
No
. of in
fan
ts la
ughin
g d
uri
ng
journ
ey
Was there a difference in infant sleeping?:
No. infants who fell asleep
p=.09
Infant Sleeping
0
2
4
6
8
10
Aw ay Tow ard
No
. o
f in
fan
ts fa
llin
g a
sle
ep
Children’s toys teach ‘normality’
1960 2000
Car Seats
“Always place the harness lock
at armpit level.”
www.edmunds.com/advice/womenfamilies
“The ‘level indicator’on the side will tell you if the seat is at the proper
45-degree angle.”
Going to Nursery
And when
most of the babies
in your culture
have similar days…
And when
most of the babies
in your culture
have similar days…
“Whatever’s normal around here...”
What kind of b
rains are we asking
our child
ren to develop --
through the days w
e create for th
em?
££
Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.
Mental well being in UK
2007
Britain ranks at bottom of
21 European countries for
child well-being
2009
For children, economic prosperity
of the last 50 yrs has brought
increased emotional problems
Source: J Heckman & D Source: J Heckman & D MasterovMasterov (2005) , (2005) , New Wealth for Old Nations: ScotlandNew Wealth for Old Nations: Scotland’’s Economic Prospectss Economic Prospects
Early Years Investment:
Savings Ratio of 1 - 10
Source: J Heckman & D Source: J Heckman & D MasterovMasterov (2005) , (2005) , New Wealth for Old Nations: ScotlandNew Wealth for Old Nations: Scotland’’s Economic Prospectss Economic Prospects
Spe
nd
ing
Westminster Parliament
Graham Allen
Testimony: Autumn 2010
Recommended programmes: Jan 2011
Financial implications: Spring 2011
Scottish Parliament
Preventative Spending Enquiry
Finance Committee!!
Testimony: August 2011
Report: January 2011
Conference: 4 March 2011
http://www.holyrood.tv/art.asp
Susan Deacon’s Report
March 2011
Learning & Teaching Scotland
December 2010
Longitudinal Studies -- Violence
Dunedin Study
1972 – present
Age 3 predicts greater likelihood of violence
in early 20’s
http://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/
news/childhd.html
Language
Barriers to Educational Achievement Emerge Barriers to Educational Achievement Emerge at a Very Young Ageat a Very Young Age
16 mos. 24 mos. 36 mos.
Cumulative Vocabulary (W
ords)
College Educated Parents
Working Class Parents
Welfare Parents
Child’s Age (Months)
200
600
1200
Source: Hart & Source: Hart & RisleyRis ley (1995) (1995)
Achievement Tests
Heckman, J. (2011). The American Family in Black and White: A post-racial strategy for improving skills to promote equality. IZA DP No. 5495
££
Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.Happiness is cheaper than unhappiness.
Invest now
Save later
Invest now
Save now
Save later
“Probably the most unexpected thing that I got from PALS was keeping my son. That doesn’t sound nice, but I honestly think if PALS hadn’t been there, I probably would have given up....It's now three years down the line, and it's working perfect.”
Programme: Parents Altogether Lending Support
6 weeks
£200 / participant
Source: Zeedyk et al., 2007Source: Zeedyk et al., 2007
In conclusion...
Nursery Neuroscience:How services grow brains
Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk
School of Psychology
University of Dundee
East Lothian Early Years Conference
March 2011
I hereby pronounce you
qualified Nursery Neuroscientists
☺
Your First Assignment
What kind of b
rains are we asking our
children to
develop --
through the services we provide to
them?
Your First Assignment
Children don’t w
ant services.
They want lo
ve.
