A Guide to Timing and Critical Periods
Timing and Critical Periods
Developmental Environments
Children’s biological sensitivity to experiences and exposures in their developmental environment changes as they grow, as part of a dynamic process. Developing biological systems are typically most sensitive during the prenatal period, with young children being more biologically sensitive than adolescents, who are more sensitive to most exposures than many adults. The timing of young children’s experiences and exposures interacts with their gene expression, shaping outcomes well into adulthood. In other words, it’s not just what children encounter in their environment, but when they encounter it that really matters, all of which interacts with how their genes are expressed, in powerfully connected ways.
This dynamic interactive process is responsive to both positive and negative influences, underscoring the importance of providing safe, supporting developmental environments in our children’s earliest years. Explore the resources in this guide to learn more.
