Pinnacle points of your child’s life and the life experiences that come along with them are what shape them. Be it key happenings from places, events, or stories they heard, it is all part of their curiosity for things. They will take these experiences, learn from them, and apply them to other situations. And also, do not forget that nutrition plays a key role as without the right nutrients, a child may not be maximizing their development.^{1, 6}

Over Protection and Caution of Isolation

The world is vast and it is instinctual for a parent to worry about the unknown causing potential harm to their child. But sometimes this overprotecting nature can be counterintuitive. People instinctively, especially children, crave close relationships, social support and care. By receiving care and social interactions, children are given tools to better cope with stressors and provide a sense of mastery. It is really the means of increasing a child’s quality of life.^{1, 2}

Children, though not able to quite put it to words, experience stress, and loneliness can contribute to stress. Extended periods of stress not only affect children mentally, but physically as well. Stress releases hormones (corticosteroid) suppress the effectiveness of the immune system and the body’s constant state of high alert causes strain on the heart and a child can develop heart related complications when older.^{1, 2}

Children Remember Anything Outstanding or Unique

Development is a response to positive or negative interactions with parents and the environment. According to The Von Restorff Effect (theory by Dr Hedwig von Restorff in 1933), when something unique happens or seen, a person, especially a child, will make a strong memory of it.² What comes to play is our focus and attention to noticing details and through creative activities or teaching styles, it can help children see, hear, hold, and smell new things.

The Von Restorff Effect is not limited to just remembering faces, but also affects other sense stimuli like taste. For example, want something to be more appealing to children? Make food into fun shapes, plate in fancy dinner wear, or even secretly add their least favorite foods with their favorite ones.¹

How Nutrition Can Shape a Child’s Emotional Well-being

Undernourishment can affect a child’s overall growth and cause behavior problems with developmental struggles to keep up with peers. In other words, if the body does not get what it needs (using brain power and thinking requires a lot of energy), it cannot run efficiently. Also, a child who has a healthy relationship with food early on, will be less likely to become obese or develop diabetes. This is because a diet that lacks essential nutrients can alter the way the body burns fats, carbohydrates and calories. It starts with the mind and a stable mood to control hunger, and for that nutrient like folate, vitamin B6, and choline are necessary for releasing brain chemicals that regulate it.^{3, 4} 

To help a child eat, offer both your child’s favorites with new items while encouraging them to try it without force. Picky eating is in a child’s nature, so rather than be frustrated, think of alternatives within that food group or provide fortified foods or growing up milks. The right amount of nutrition matters and when food alone is not enough, Similac Gain IQ Kid can help. With a unique combination of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), lutein, and natural vitamin E to help support vision and brain development⁵and 2’‐FL HMO & Nucleotides to help support immunity, your child can both learn and thrive.⁶ Talk, teach, learn, and explore together with your child as social interactions are as important as nutrition when it comes to helping them thrive.

To experience the full range of Similac growing-up milk options, please visit Similac Myanmar today to sign up for samples.