critical periods of development

Critical periods of development are specific windows in early life when the brain is especially receptive to learning certain skills or adapting to experiences. During these times, exposure to particular stimuli or environments is crucial for typical development—for example, language acquisition or visual processing. If the necessary experiences don't occur within these periods, it may become much harder or even impossible to achieve typical development later. These periods highlight the importance of providing appropriate stimuli or support during key stages to ensure healthy growth and skill development.