When does development begin and what sorts of things determine whether children will learn with ease or have difficulties?
Let's go back to the start. The combination of genes from a child's father and mother provide a unique genetic pattern and, from that moment, provided there are no accidents during the time of cell division or negative influences passed through the placenta (eg German measles in the mother affecting hearing and vision in the child), the 'nature' side of development is set. Already certain characteristics are in place, such as eye colour, body-build and temperament. Some of these attributes can be changed by experiences, but new learning or moments of stress can cause the inherited traits to emerge once more.
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