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How to enhance early childhood perceptual development

An infant's view of the world grows as they grow. This is called perceptual development, and you can enhance early childhood perceptual development by the stimulation you provide your child in his/her environment.

Early childhood perceptual development begins in infants almost as soon as they are born. Using primarily visual stimulation, the infant's perception of reality begins to develop as they gaze upon the objects that surround them.

Recent studies performed by a professor at New York University suggest that early childhood perceptual development is enhanced more by one-on-one personal interactions than it is by bright colored objects and other mechanical things designed to entertain and amuse the infant. Spending time talking, holding, coddling your infant will produce greater rates of perceptual development than simply filling their environment with bright colored toys.

However, this does not mean that you should neglect your infant's environment. Making your baby's environment as colorful, entertaining, and appealing as possible will also assist your infant's perceptual development. Studies have proven that an infant will stare at a new object that is introduced into their environment longer than they will an old one. What this means is that the baby is able differentiate between the two items and recognizes that they are different. This is a critical part of early childhood perceptual development.

Therefore, if you want to ensure the continual growth of your baby's perceptual development you should do both, i.e., surround him/her with brightly colored objects and play with, talk to, and hold your newborn as much as possible.

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