Here's another #BrainFactMonday: did you know that a child's brain develops faster than a teenager's?

🧠 This is because the brain undergoes its most significant growth during the first five years of life, with 𝟴𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲. During this time, new neural connections are forming rapidly, allowing children to acquire language, develop motor skills, and learn about the world around them.

🌍 That's why watching them at that age is so fascinating! During adolescence, instead, the brain undergoes pruning, that is the removal of 𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀. In so doing, the brain become more specialised and efficient which happens at a slower pace than the formation of new connections.👈

Now here's the point: understanding the unique way children's brains develop can help parents, educators, and caregivers support and foster healthy development during these crucial early years. 

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Understanding why teenagers look like adults but often still think and act like children can also help improve the relationships at home and give parents a framework to make sense of what's going on with their kids. 👧👦