1. 1 The Carter-Jenkins Center presents

2. 2 Humberto Nagera M.D. Professor of Psychiatry, University of South Florida. Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan. Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst, Tampa Bay Psychoanalytic Institute. Director, The Carter-Jenkins Center.

3. 3 DAY CARE CENTERS: RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT OR AMBER LIGHT (ITS POTENTIAL DANGERS)

4. 4 Day Care Centers (Potential Dangers) 1) The greatest potential danger applies to 1) The greatest potential danger applies to infants ranging in age from a few days or infants ranging in age from a few days or weeks to one and a half years weeks to one and a half years 2) The second most endangered group (but 2) The second most endangered group (but less fundamentally so than the previous less fundamentally so than the previous one) is those children between one and a one) is those children between one and a half and two and a half to three years. half and two and a half to three years.

5. 5 Day Care Centers (Potential Dangers) 3) The potential damage that can accrue to 3) The potential damage that can accrue to children outside the two groups above is children outside the two groups above is significantly reduced and will not be significantly reduced and will not be discussed here discussed here 4) The nature of the possible negative 4) The nature of the possible negative impact of Day-Care will be different impact of Day-Care will be different according to: according to:

6. 6 Day Care Centers (Potential Dangers) a) The quality of the care provided in the a) The quality of the care provided in the Day Care Center Day Care Center b) The time that the child remains in the b) The time that the child remains in the Day Care Setting every day Day Care Setting every day c) The type of relationship between the c) The type of relationship between the infant and his parents in general infant and his parents in general

7. 7 Day Care Centers (Potential Dangers) d) The amount of interaction between d) The amount of interaction between mother and infant, after he comes from mother and infant, after he comes from the Day Care Center every day the Day Care Center every day e) The age of the child e) The age of the child

8. 8 Day Care Centers (Potential Dangers) - To understand the potential dangers of Day Care Centers in the ages specified, you need to have Centers in the ages specified, you need to have some familiarity with the degree of immaturity of some familiarity with the degree of immaturity of the brain at birth, and what it needs in order to the brain at birth, and what it needs in order to develop ideally. I’ll try to show you those facts develop ideally. I’ll try to show you those facts - Once you understand that you can draw your own conclusions about Day Care as you see this program conclusions about Day Care as you see this program

9. 9 THE MARVELS OF THE HUMAN BRAIN -An adult human brain weights 1200-1300 grams -At birth it only weights 300 to 350 grams -By two years it would have trebled in size, to 900 to 1050 grams (2/3 of the adult size) ** to 1050 grams (2/3 of the adult size) ** -The brain has 100 billion neurons, all active at the same time same time

10. 10 Simplified Neuron

11. 11

12. 12 Simplified Neuron

13. 13 THE MARVELS OF THE HUMAN BRAIN -Each neuron establishes connections with 100,000 other neurons, with the total number 100,000 other neurons, with the total number of synaptic connection at 10 27 of synaptic connection at 10 27 -The number of possible combinations of synaptic connections is in the range of synaptic connections is in the range of 10 1,000,000 10 1,000,000

14. 14 THE MARVELS OF THE HUMAN BRAIN -Brain development never stops, at least not for as long as we are open to learning long as we are open to learning -By the same token, brain programming never stops. As Andreasen remarked in 2001 (1), “Each stops. As Andreasen remarked in 2001 (1), “Each one of us is a unique person and has a unique one of us is a unique person and has a unique brain primarily because each of us has had a brain primarily because each of us has had a different combination of life experiences that has different combination of life experiences that has shaped who we are” shaped who we are” (1) Andreasen, N. C. (2201), Brave New Brain, New York: Oxford Universities Press. (1) Andreasen, N. C. (2201), Brave New Brain, New York: Oxford Universities Press.

15. 15 THE MARVELS OF THE HUMAN BRAIN She continued: “Furthermore, as we live She continued: “Furthermore, as we live each minute of each day and each day of each minute of each day and each day of each year, we make choices that change our each year, we make choices that change our brains and ultimately change who we are. Our brains and ultimately change who we are. Our brains are constantly rewiring themselves…” brains are constantly rewiring themselves…”

16. 16 Day Care Centers (Potential Dangers) Three sets of variables need examination: 1) Coming from the Child 1) Coming from the Child 2) Type of environment, including the human 2) Type of environment, including the human objects that will care for him objects that will care for him 3) Those resulting from the interaction between 3) Those resulting from the interaction between endowment and the environment endowment and the environment

17. 17 1) Coming from the Child: A) Immaturity of the brain at birth (the most immature of all mammals, ex of foal) immature of all mammals, ex of foal) B) Remember that the weight of brain at birth is only 300 to 350 grams only 300 to 350 grams C) Need of “environmental stimulation” in order to complete brain development ideally* complete brain development ideally*

18. 18 Day Care Centers (Potential Dangers) WHAT DOES “ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULATION ” DO? 1) Promotes dendritization of the neurons ** 2) Promotes vascularization in areas of the brain ** 3) Promotes myelinization ** 4) Promotes important biochemical and hormonal processes, in early infancy ** 5) Role of impoverished or enriched environments **

19. 19 How the brain gets programmed? While the brain is developing and forming itself, it is at the same time being programmed, so that it can, in time, perform the functions of which it is capable (language example) ** The importance of the constancy of objects ** Problems with the multiplicity and quality of the care takers **

20. 20 Other general considerations Physical facilities of the Day Care Center Physical facilities of the Day Care Center Number of staff (ratio staff to patient at the Number of staff (ratio staff to patient at the various ages). Laws regulating this facilities, various ages). Laws regulating this facilities, etc etc Range of ages accepted? Who is the staff? Quality of training if any? Who is the staff? Quality of training if any? How are they selected? Salaries?

21. 21 THE END Daycare Centers: Red Light, Green Light, Amber Light (Its Potential Dangers) Copyright 2003 A Carter-Jenkins Center production