WHEN my daughter was a toddler, I carefully monitored everything she ate.
All her meals were prepared from scratch using only fresh ingredients.
It was time consuming, but necessary to ensure she got a good start to proper nutrition.
Over the years, like most busy multitasking mums, my standards have slipped a little. I try to cook healthy, balanced meals on most days, but given that she's now 12 and has developed her own food preferences, the occasional burger or pizza does find its way into our menu.
The first five years of life are the most crucial for brain development, so what you feed your child at this stage has far-reaching implications and as parents, we can only hope that an early start to good nutrition and healthy eating stays with the child well into adulthood.
Research indicates that the first five years of a child's life are critical for brain development, with more than one million neural connections forming every second. In fact, 80 to 90 per cent of a child's brain develops during early childhood.
While genetics does play a role in brain function, one cannot deny the impact of optimal nutrition and an enriching environment.
Nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy and happy child, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Speaking at an event organised by Mead Johnson Nutrition Malaysia in conjunction with World Brain Day, Nancy says the early years have a lasting impact on a child's health, happiness and ability to learn and succeed, and right nutrition and proper stimulation and care are crucial during this period.
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY
In the last six years, there has been a troubling increase in developmental delays among Malaysian children, she adds.
"Our children face many challenges daily, with one of the most significant being access to proper nutrition. It's essential for parents to understand the basic nutritional needs of their children."
Suboptimal nutrition may deprive a child's opportunity to reach full brain potential.
Brain function is associated with genetics, but the environment a child groups up in also has an impact, explains UKM Children Specialist Hospital consultant general and developmental paediatrician Associate Professor Dr Norazlin Kamal Nor.
So how do we enrich the environment to support the brain? One way is to ensure every child gets optimal nutrition through a good balanced diet.
At each age group, they should be getting a certain amount of calories and this must be met through a healthy diet that provides all essential vitamins and minerals.
In addition, creating a supportive and nurturing home environment, where the child feels secure, safe and confident, helps them thrive.
Dr Norazlin says it's also important that parents be watchful for any signs of a developmental delay. Being aware of these "red flags" and taking steps to intervene early can result in better outcomes, especially in the first five years of life.
Parents should observe if children are developing the way they should in terms of motor function, language development and socialisation. For this to happen, parents must be aware of the developmental stages of a child or what he or she should be achieving at every stage of childhood.
For example, when he should be crawling, saying his first word or taking his first step.
BLOOMING PERIOD
If the child fails to meet certain milestones, that's an early sign that there is a developmental issue. By monitoring, parents can pick it up early and research has shown that if detected early and intervention provided, the outcome will be better.
"The earlier you pick it up, the better the outcome for the brain as the brain is still in the developing stage."
During the first five years of life, the brain is in its "blooming period" , adds Universiti Putra Malaysia department of human anatomy head Professor Cheah Pike See.
As children have so much to learn in the first few years of life, connections form rapidly between neurons in the brain, she explains.
"The brain is most sensitive to new experiences during this time and children actually learn at their best."
Factors such as nutrition and environmental influences play significant roles in shaping the growth of the brain in children, adds Cheah.
Proper nourishment and healthy digestion (as the gut is the second brain) are vital to support the formation of brain cells and neural connections.
Cheah explains that like the brain, the gut also has millions of neurons. Good nutrition ensures a healthy gut microbiome and in return, our gut microbiome will produce substances that are beneficial for the brain.
Similarly, parent-child interactions and the quality of early experiences are also important in fostering healthy brain development.
As a result, optimal nutrition together with an enriching and secure environment, will ensure the holistic development of the brain.
This equips a child with the necessary tools to thrive cognitively and emotionally in the long run.
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