Little Brains Matter: A Practical Guide to Brain Development and Neuroscience in Early Childhood

This accessible guide introduces neuroscience, demystifying terminology and language and increasing the knowledge, skills and, importantly, confidence of anyone interested in brain development in early childhood.

Practical and reflective chapters highlight the multi-faceted role of adults as ‘brain builders’ and encourage the reader to consider how the environment, play and interactions are crucially interlinked. The book considers cutting-edge science and introduces this in an accessible way to look at a range of ways that adults can support children, exploring:

• how poverty, adversity, and social, emotional and mental health all influence the developing child
• the science behind play, and why it is so important for young children
• how we can take ideas from different disciplines such as psychology and anthropology and interweave these with the overarching research of neuroscience
• why adult interaction (both practitioner and parent/carer) with children is crucial for the developing brain
• the importance of reflective practice to encourage readers to consider their actions and develop their understanding of important topics raised in the book.

With a wealth of case studies and reflective practices weaving throughout, readers will be encouraged and empowered to pause and consider their own practice. Little Brains Matter will be essential reading for anyone interested in early childhood development.

Debbie Garvey is an author, trainer, consultant, lecturer, researcher and facilitator. Debbie is a huge advocate of enabling and empowering the use and development of professional reflective practice in order to support quality experiences for children, families and staff. Debbie has particular research interests in developing understanding across the early childhood sector in regard to leadership, neuroscience, PSED/wellbeing, imposter syndrome, Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model (2006) and the use of ethnography and autoethnography.