ABSTRACT
The genetic make-up that children inherit from their parents is increasingly seen as a significant influence on many diverse aspects of the child’s growth, development and ultimate functioning. The changes to specific brain cell functioning exert their influence through changes to the complex chemical and hormonal structures that control all of our bodily systems, and that in turn alter our emotions and behaviour. Brain plasticity is the ability of the brain to adapt and change in response to experience. It appears to be at its greatest during early phases of development and may be associated with specific gene variations. Children’s leisure activities have changed in recent years with social networking media being a critical aspect of daily life for many youngsters, and their routine way of communicating with peers. Play is also important to young children coping with the developmental changes because it is the medium they use to try to understand the world around them.
