Cognitive stimulation
P. Marquis
Cross-sectional studies suggest that the intellectual development of
American children is affected by experiences in the first three years of
life. Furthermore, Piaget and White have observed and documented direct
effects of the environment on the development of infants during the first
year of life. Principles derived from animal research and the disappointing
results of preschool intervention programs highlight the irreversible
nature of early infant-environment interaction. Future programs designed to
prevent educational incapacitation among children must concentrate on
optimizing the developmental milieu of the child before he is 4 years old.
Accomplishing this task is the practical challenge in the field of child
development today.
