Most of brain development occurs during the first few years. Apathetic and antagonistic parents would cause stress, impairing the child’s brain development (Children’s Bureau et al., 2001). Unfortunately a negative environment would be as influential on brain development as a positive environment (Children’s Bureau et al., 2001).
While the impact of a negative environment can be undone, only a small window of opportunity exists, and the window decreases in size with age and other factors (Children’s Bureau et al., 2001). Children and adults are able to learn after the first few years, but learning becomes more difficult. Young children’s potential ability to learn later in life is molded by their experiences (Children’s Bureau et al., 2001). Those who miss out on certain stimulation will have lost synapses and missed out on critical periods of development. For example, if a child is unable to form an attachment to their caregiver the child may find it more difficult than peers to have healthy relationships (Children’s Bureau et al., 2001).
The impact of a negative environment on a child can be vast in range and severe. A child who is raised in a chaotic and abusive home will learn that survival depends on being alert for danger. The child’s brain would be focused on making and intensifying strategies for survival. Other needed skills such as cognitive and social skills may not fully develop (Children’s Bureau et al., 2001). A child from such a home may not be able to function in a world of compassion, encouragement, and incentive merely because the positive environment would be new and neural pathways have not been made for such an environment (Children’s Bureau et al., 2001).