Your Child’s Brain Grows to 90% of Its Adult Size by Age 5 — Here’s Why That Matters
Did you know that by the time your child turns five, their brain will have reached 90% of its adult size?
This incredible growth doesn’t just mean their brain is getting bigger—it means it’s forming connections at lightning speed. These early years are when children build the foundation for how they will think, learn, feel, and interact with the world for the rest of their lives.
As a caregiver, that can feel like a lot of pressure. But here’s the beautiful part: you’re already doing so many of the things that support this growth—often without even realizing it.
What Does 90% Brain Growth Really Mean?
It means that the first five years of a child’s life are a powerful window of opportunity. Every hug, every bedtime story, every “why” question, every silly song—they all help build the brain's structure in ways that support lifelong learning and emotional well-being.
Think of your child’s brain like a house. During these early years, you’re laying the foundation and building the framework. Later on, things like school, sports, and social experiences will decorate and shape that house—but what you do now sets the tone for how strong and stable it will be.
So, What Can You Do to Support This Growth?
Here are a few simple, science-backed ways to support early brain development every day:
Talk constantly. Narrate your day, describe what you see, and ask open-ended questions. Language exposure helps wire the brain for communication and thinking.
Read daily. Just 10–15 minutes a day of reading builds vocabulary, focus, and imagination. It also builds a deep emotional connection between you and your child.
Play together. Imaginative play helps children explore emotions, problem-solving, and social interaction.
Sing and rhyme. Repetition and rhythm help children learn the sounds of language and build memory skills.
Offer comfort and patience. When you respond with empathy to big feelings, you’re helping your child build emotional regulation and resilience.
What Are Children Learning During This Time?
Between birth and age five, your child is learning:
How to express and understand emotions
How to connect and communicate with others
How to be curious, confident, and creative
How to focus, solve problems, and ask questions
These aren’t just “school skills”—they’re life skills.
The Bottom Line?
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present. The little things you do each day—reading a book, singing in the car, listening to a story—are shaping your child’s future in powerful ways.
At the Family Resource Centers of Columbia County, we’re here to support you on this journey. Through programs like Literacy Voyage, free community playgroups, and family-centered resources, we’re working every day to give caregivers the tools they need to raise confident, curious, and capable kids.
Because when caregivers are supported, children thrive.
