What is the primary way newborns learn?

Newborns primarily learn through their senses, which play a crucial role in their early development. From the moment they are born, infants engage with the world around them using their senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. These sensory experiences are fundamental for helping them understand their environment, recognize caregivers, and explore new stimuli.

For example, newborns are particularly responsive to visual stimuli, such as faces and strong contrasts, which helps them bond with their caregivers. The ability to hear sounds also aids in the early stages of language acquisition, as they start to recognize familiar voices and sounds. Tactile experiences, such as skin-to-skin contact, play an important role in their emotional development and regulation.

While repetition, visual observation, and imitation are important aspects of learning that develop as infants grow older, the foundation of learning in newborns is fundamentally rooted in sensory exploration. Thus, the senses are the primary means through which newborns gather information and begin to make sense of the world around them.