Baby learning expert Dr. Jane Williams says babies’ brains grow most rapidly in the first twelve months of life, and this is a critical period for learning.

Research has shown that the correct stimulation for babies can influence how well they behave, read and learn when they reach school, along with improved confidence, communication and social skills.

During this first year the brain grows dramatically, producing billions of cells and hundreds of trillions of connections between these cells. A baby’s brain actually grows 64 percent, reaching over half of its adult size in the first three months.

It is well researched that during the earliest years of life, much of the essential wiring linked to learning is laid down. Paediatrician Dr. Meredith Bayfield says that research into brain development clearly shows a child’s success at school is set in the earliest years of life.