Which of the following statements about intellectual development is true?

a. environment plays a minor role in intellectual development.
b. with a stimulating environment, there are no limits to a child's intellectual development.
c. opportunities for learning affect a child's brain development.
d. heredity determines the extent to which a person's potential is actually developed.

Children are born with tremendous potential and capacity for learning across all developmental domains: physical, cognitive, emotional, language, and social development. Brain development in early childhood is influenced by heredity, experiences, and relationships. The adults who live with and care for infants and young children play an important role in laying the foundation and setting the stage for learning success. This set of developmental and learning guidelines was developed to ensure that the people who care for infants and young children have the knowledge and resources to support and encourage children during the ongoing process of growth and learning. These guidelines will help those living or working with young children to recognize appropriate behaviors and set realistic expectations for infant, toddler, and preschooler growth, development, and learning. The Guidelines for Healthy Child Development and Care for Young Children (Birth - Three Years of Age) was originally compiled in 2004 by a workgroup composed of early childhood professionals, to be compatible with the Maryland Model for School Readiness (MMSR) and the Maryland State Curriculum, making the guidelines an important part of a Birth-Grade 12 learning continuum. The guidelines also met the expectations of the No Child Left Behind Act, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECS/SDE), which were stated in a joint position paper of November 2002. The Guidelines were updated in 2007. Early learning guidelines can be a valuable part of a comprehensive high quality system of services for young children, contributing to young children’s educational experiences and to their future success. But these results can be achieved only if the early learning standards (1) emphasize significant, developmentally appropriate content and outcomes; (2) are developed and reviewed through informed, inclusive processes; (3) use implementation and assessment strategies that are ethical and appropriate for young children; and (4) are accompanied by strong supports for early childhood programs, professionals, and families. In 2009, the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Development began a revision of these guidelines and changed the name to Healthy Beginnings: Supporting Development and Learning from Birth through Three Years of Age. The revision process was intended to ensure that the information continued to meet the goals of being family-friendly, accurate, and developmentally appropriate. It is our hope that families, child care providers, special educators, family services workers and others who use Healthy Beginnings will confidently embrace their roles as a child’s earliest teachers and will strive to do all that they can to meet needs of the children in their care by supporting and encouraging them along the continuum of learning.