In Recent Years, Many Educators Have Spoken of the First

Essay

In recent years, many educators have spoken of the first few years of life as being a critical period for brain development, in large part because much synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, and myelination occur during this time. They have therefore suggested that infants, toddlers, and young preschoolers should be immersed in many stimulating activities that provide a foundation for reading, writing, arithmetic, and other basic skills. Respond to their line of reasoning by answering the following questions:
a. What roles do synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, and myelination each play in brain development?
b. Is formal education that begins at age 5 or 6 too late? Justify your response using what you have learned about brain development.