Chapter 1: Understanding the Importance of the Environment Chapter 1 Learning Outcome Quizzes Learning Objective 1.1: Explain why the environment is important for children’s learning. [Q1] Which of the following is a true statement about children’s learning during the early years? 1. The lack of appropriate experiences in the early childhood years can alter a child’s brain development. [correct] 2. Brain development is most rapid during adolescence. 3. Since children spend more time from fourth to eighth grade than in birth to grade three environments, they have the opportunity to make up for missed early experiences. 4. The synapses developed by the brain remain consistent during childhood. [Feedback for Correct Answer 1] Children’s brain development is altered by the environment and stimulation that they receive. This affects not only the brain but even how genes are expressed. [Feedback for Answer Choice 2] Brain development is most active during the early childhood years. [Feedback for Answer Choice 3] Children in most early childhood environments will spend more time in these environments than in the rest of elementary school. Additionally, learning is built on the foundation of early childhood. If these skills are missing, it is often difficult to make them up.