The development of every child is unique. This means that even if two - or more - children have the same age, they will differ in their state of development. Thus it is advisable to challenge each child at their individual state of development. From a neuro pedagogical point of view, the age of children can be dissected into four separate areas of age: chronological-, sensorial-, cognitive- and emotional age:
- The emotional age defines, the child's ability to read, understand and emotionally react.
- The sensorial age depends on the ability of the child to integrate and coordinate sensory input.
- The chronological age defines the actual age of the child.
- The cognitive age defines, the child's ability to understand, maintain and act on information or an idea.
Every child's development can be defined as their ability to master ever more complex tasks. To develop the child’s neets task with some complexity, but not more than they are able to master. This is to meet the child within their proximal zone of development. When meeting a challenge, which the child can master, the connections within the child’s brain - better known as the neural network - increases. If the task is to complex for the child, the result will be a frustrated child that reacts with stress. It is scientifically proved, that a large neural network with many connections boosts the child's flexibility. Meeting the child within it their proximal zone of development results in more innovative and creative children, as they ares used to being challenged and thus faster to adapt to new situations.