Why understanding how a child's brain works at different ages is so important

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We know brain development continues from infancy to adulthood, but many parents underestimate how much a child’s brain changes from year to year, and how those changes can influence behaviour. Yet many parents don’t realise how quickly infants begin to develop social and emotional awareness, said Ross Thompson, who is president of the child development organisation Zero to Three, and a cognitive psychologist at the University of California at Davis. When toddlers won’t stop throwing a fit, do something forbidden or refuse to share, Thompson explains that they’re not being willfully obstinate: “Many parents overestimate a child’s capacity for self-control.” Thompson recommends helping young children with self-control – for example, by distracting them with a favourite toy while passing candy in the grocery store checkout aisle. Throughout a child’s life, parents who understand some basics of brain development can adjust their expectations, and better come up with strategies to prevent frustration for everyone.