Referents need to be introduced to the child during "windows of opportunity."
In the case of the child, this also means brain growth.
There are biological windows in which certain referents will have a maximum impact on this brain growth. Lets look at some of these windows.
Surprisingly, the first occurs before birth, eight to thirteen weeks after fertilization.
This is the short window of time when the number of neuroblasts, the progenitors of nerve cells proliferate.
During this time each neuroblast turns into a neuron and this determines to a great extent the number of nerve cells the child will have for life !
So, what is the important referent for this window ? Food--the diet of the mother. Among other things, a diet lacking in amino acids can result in a reduced number of neuroblasts.
Even more devastating can be the effects of alcohol and tobacco.