Physical Safety is Important to Brain Development The foundation for healthy brain development is a safe environment in which children can grow, develop, and achieve good health. A safe and healthy environment for young children includes:

safe, responsible caregiving
a safe indoor and outdoor environment
good health practices and health care
good nutrition and healthy mealtimes.

Children who have safe surroundings, dependable and caring adults, and a predictable environment feel secure and are able to explore and learn without danger of injury. They can relate to other people without anxiety, and can develop the ability to regulate their emotions.

Young children cannot create a safe and healthy world for themselves. The caring adults around them are responsible for creating an environment that nurtures them and promotes healthy brain development.

A simple example of a way that adults assure physical well-being is sleep position. During the first four months of life, when they cannot turn over readily, infants should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).