These key scientific concepts are the building blocks of the core story of child development. Each page within this section provides a concise overview of a different key concept and aggregates a variety of resources created by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the Center.
Early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health.
Serve and return interactions shape brain architecture. When an infant or young child babbles, gestures, or cries, and an adult responds appropriately with eye contact, words, or a hug, neural connections are built and strengthened in the child’s brain that support the development of communication and social skills.
Learn about toxic stress response, how it differs from two other stress responses, positive and tolerable, and how it can be prevented or even reversed.
Executive function and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.
Science tells us that some children develop resilience, or the ability to overcome significant adversity, while others do not.