What is the best age to learn?
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hildren’s brains develop rapidly during what is called the critical period. The first occurs around the age of 2 years, the second during adolescence. While at this age, the number of connections (synapses) between brain cells (neurons) double up. Two-year-olds have twice as many synapses as adults. Because these connections between brain cells are where learning occurs, twice as many synapses enable the brain to learn faster than at any other time in life. Therefore, children’s experiences at this stage have a lasting impact on their development.
our gray cells can no longer learn new things, but that we rely on a set number of neuro pathways to carry out our thinking. In other words, we get stuck in a mind rut. However, it is possible to break free and become a new learner and hobbies can help. For example, a study focused on 200 older adults found that learning a mentally challenging skill can improve memory. In this case, people took up hobbies such as photography and quilting, which required them to perform cognitively demanding and complex tasks. Hobbies can often make you a more valuable employee. Another study suggested that people who spend time on hobbies perform better at work. They are more likely to come up with creative solutions to problems at work and are more likely to help their co-workers.
This first critical period of brain development begins around age 2 and ends around age 7. It provides a prime opportunity to lay the foundation of holistic education for the children. Four ways to maximize this critical period include encouraging a love of learning, focusing on breadth rather than depth, focusing on emotional intelligence, and not treating young children’s education We can make our brain younger: as mere precursors to “real” learning is included. We conclude that children learn at a faster rate because By the age of 25 our brain becomes “lazy”. It is not that of the moldable nature of their brains. The good news is 22
APRIL 2022
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