Brain researcher, parenting coach and founder of X-Factor Education, Nathan Wallis, explains how the brain develops from newborn to adult. Why do male and female brains grow differently, what hinders and promotes brain growth, and what are warning signs for parents if a child isn't developing normally?

Even before birth, babies are busily data-gathering, says brain researcher, parenting coach and founder of X-Factor Education, Nathan Wallis.

He tells Kathryn Ryan how parents can support young children through the four stages of brain development.

Listen to the full interview

"Even in the womb already starting to gather information about what sort of environment it's going into. If mum's getting foot-rubs and cups of tea brought to her and having a good old time she's releasing endorphins into her bloodstream.

"Those endorphins are positive hormones and they basically flood the womb and they tell the baby .... Whoa, it's pretty bliss out there!"

If the baby knows that the mum is in a good place, it can get ready for "those higher intellect things", Wallis says.

However, the opposite is the case with a stressed mother.

"Even if there's no violence present, just her worrying about perhaps violence is going to happen, that releases the stress hormone cortisol.

"Cortisol washes over the baby and tells the baby it's a pretty hostile environment out there, I better start getting ready for survival mode."

While some midwives refer to the first year of a baby's life as the "golden year", when it comes to brain development the first 1,000 days are critical, he says.

"In the research, we can predict so many of your adult outcomes form the age of one.

"The baby's got its own consciousness, they're born with a temperament, but it's like you've arrived into a spaceship, you've got no idea how to fly the spaceship - the spaceship is the human body."

In year one, the baby just needs to feel safe, Wallis says.

"In lots of ways in the first year of life, the parents' job is to make that child feel secure.

"Your job in the first year of life is to treat the baby like they are the centre of the universe - you are their slave!"

The four brains

1. the 'survival brain' keeps us alive, keeps our heart beating and is home to the fight, flight or freeze response

2. the 'movement brain' is our centre for movement and co-ordination

3. the 'mammal brain' is where feelings and emotions come from

4. the 'thinking and learning brain' is what enables us to read, write and control emotions …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details