4 little steps to big impact: How the early years of your child can leave a mark into adulthood

Children who were well cared for in their early years grow into healthier, more confident adults. According to registered dietician Dr. Connye Kuratko in his paper for the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), “the period from birth to 2 years of age is considered the primary growth phase for the human brain.” These years are crucial for children because at the time when their brains are growing, solid foundations in nutrition and well-being are being introduced to them as well.

Bearing that in mind, here are easy but important steps in ensuring your child grows up to be the man or woman they would want to be.

1) Track their height and weight

Dr. George Zgourides, in his research Development Psychology, states that long-term effects of malnutrition like stunting, poor brain development, obesity, and higher risk of heart disease and diabetes may be avoided by keeping a child’s height and weight on track.

Keep a chart of your child’s height and weight and update it monthly or weekly. Malnutrition can manifest as both a thin and plump child, so check if he or she is growing at the healthy yearly rate (you may check with your pediatrician).

2) Answer their whys

At their ‘terrible twos’ up until they are 4 or 5 years old, children start to be overly curious and their ‘Why?’ questions will be abundant. Take these questions seriously. Kids will pay close attention to your answers and will use these to form their own set of values. Spending time answering their questions also becomes valuable bonding time, which contributes to their emotional health in the long run.

3) Let them sleep in

According to a 2013 medical study at the University of Wisconsin, another factor on proper development is a good night’s sleep.

Children can have different sleep patterns at different ages but, typically, they need around 10 hours of sleep a night. Because their bodies are still growing and changing at a rapid pace, sleep is essential for the repair and increase of myelin. Myelin is essential in the quick conduction of impulses from the brain to different parts of the body, making a child sharp and alert.

Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, may produce hormonal changes and lead to increased risks of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, among others.

4) Feed their brains

The nervous system goes through dramatic change during your child’s early years. Dr. Zgourides once again explains that the hemispheres of the brain develop at different rates, with the left hemisphere developing more fully in early childhood, and the right hemisphere during middle childhood.

When your kids’ brains are better developed, the more capable they are of complex skills. Language and logic skills reside in the left hemisphere, while creativity and holistic thinking reside in the right. Left- or right-handedness, however, should not be dictated because this is determined by what hemisphere is more dominant in the child.

As parents, a child’s nutrition is an important factor that you have control over. Complement your kid’s healthy diet by letting them take multivitamins in the form of dietary supplements like Appeton Hi-Q. With taurine and DHA, multivitamins that are good for the eyes and brain, Appeton Hi-Q, the brain vitamin, is the supplement your child needs to keep healthy and improve their brain development. Appeton Hi-Q comes in star-shaped chewable tablets that make vitamins not just good, but fun for kids too.

Every child is different and every child is special. Shower them with love and support, remember these little steps, and their adult lives will surely be alright.