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From birth to age 5, a child’s brain develops more rapidly than at any other time in their life.

 

The quality of a child’s experiences in the first few years of life — positive or negative — determines which brain connections develop and will last for a lifetime. 

Pathfinder Health has developed a framework to help you help your child reach their maximum potential.

PROE™ — A holistic approach to child development.

90%

of a child’s brain develops by age 5

All children develop at their own pace – some will walk or talk earlier than usual, while others may take more time – but the early years are the best opportunity for a child’s brain to form the connections they need to succeed in school and life.

 

Motivation, self-regulation, problem-solving, communication, and self-esteem – are formed in these early years. If they do not develop during this time, it will be much harder for the brain to build these essential connections later in life.

The PROE™ Framework.

Building brain connections is like building muscles — use it or lose it. Connections that are used more often become stronger, while those that are not used will be eventually eliminated, making the brain more efficient. 

We — at Pathfinder Health — strive to give children the best possible start in life. So we've analyzed 17 mainstream developmental theories and distilled them into one unifying framework — PROE — to help you support your baby's development effortlessly and help them reach their full potential. 

The PROE Framework is the result of hundreds of hours of work and is based on the most up-to-date science. PROE stands for “Play, Relationships, Observation, Experience” — all of the ways your child interacts with the world around them, strengthening their physical, social/emotional, cognitive, and language development.

PROE Framework
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P.

Play

Supported by Cognitive development theory, Maturational, and Sociocultural theory.

Play allows children to explore their creativity, practice new skills, and develop a sense of self.

 

It also helps them to build social skills and learn how to cooperate with others. 

R.

Relationship

Supported by Attachment theory, Psychosocial development theory, and Behavioral learning theory.

A child’s relationships with the people in their life are the most important influences on their brain development. Loving relationships with responsive, dependable adults are essential to a child’s healthy development.

 

These relationships begin at home, with family members, but also include childcare providers, teachers, and other members of the community.

O.

Observation

Supported by Behavioral Learning theory, Social Learning theory, and Attachment theory.

Allowing your child to watch you talk, cook, clean, or work on a project gives them a chance to see how adults interact with their environment.

 

It also provides valuable lessons in cause and effect–as they watch you complete a task, they can begin to understand how their actions can affect their world.

E.

Experience

Supported by Sociocultural theory, Behavioral learning theory, Psychosocial development theory, and Cognitive development theory.

Starting from birth, children develop brain connections through their everyday experiences.

 

They also learn how their actions and bodies impact the environment around them, teaching them self-awareness and cause and effect.

The PROE™ Framework in the Pathfinder Health app.

Don't worry if you don't have everything figured out — check out the 600+ activities you can do to promote your child's development in the Pathfinder Health app. Each activity is already marked for your convenience!

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Developmental Activities.

  • Our parent-child activities are a great way for parents to encourage their child’s development using both routine daily tasks and interactions and special games and projects. The best part? Many only take a few minutes!

 

  • We offer a variety of fun and engaging activities that are sure to keep your baby engaged in each developmental domain: physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language development — we offer something everybody will enjoy!

 

  • You can share the activities with your loved ones & caregivers so they can also encourage your child’s development.

What Physicians Say.

What Parents Say.

During testing, 100% of participating families reported increased engagement with their kids following the PROE framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've gathered commonly asked questions about child development so you can gain a better understanding of this fascinating topic.

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PROE™

Check out our blog for an in-depth introduction to the PROE™ framework.

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Disclaimer: The PROE Framework and the information on this site are not designed to and do not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, or treatment. The information is NOT intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional.

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