Child development is crucial throughout the early years, when brain development occurs. Brain development contributes to the functioning of the body. The brain's anatomy is made up of neurons and divided into four different lobes. The temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital lobes control various cognitive functions. The brain controls simple functions such as fine and gross motor skills, vision and memory. According to Meadows (1993, p. 263), at all levels of the brain there are programs for functions such as breathing, sleeping, and producing coherent language. Children's brain development is vital during the early years. During the early years, children's brains are active, allowing them to learn various information. Many studies have been conducted and concluded that a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, and exposure of young children to a variety of educational materials contribute to child development. The early years of a child's life are crucial in terms of their intellectual and socio-emotional abilities (Bose, 2000). Brain DevelopmentThe brain and the more nonessential parts of the nervous system are made up of neurons (Meadows, 1993). p.266). The brain is made up of neurons, axons, dendrites and synapses. They all have their individual jobs that contribute to the functioning of the body. Brain weight increases as a child reaches adulthood. According to Siegler & Alibali (2005, p13), changes in brain size enable advanced thinking. Neurons constitute the functional core of the brain (Brotherson, 2005). The brain begins to develop in the mother's womb and continues to develop as the child develops. The neuron has branches protruding from the cell that send signals to the synapse and axon. The synapse and axon shape the brain which allows connections to be made. Young children learn new information when they follow the same routine regularly. If a parent repeatedly calls a child by a certain name, connections are formed that allow the child to recognize that name over time and they will begin to respond to that name (Brotherson, 2005). Through repetitive experiences, axons and synapses strengthen, causing learning. The brain is divided into four main lobes: the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe and the temporal lobe. Each lobe contributes to the cognitive development of young children.