Gone are the days when life went by at a leisurely pace and children had time to spend their evenings catching spiders. These days, children are stretched in more ways than we can imagine and are under constant pressure to perform. But perhaps that’s not such a bad thing after all. If we take good care of our children, meet their needs and keep a close watch on their mental and physical wellbeing, they will shine like superstars!
Your child’s well-being goes beyond just the physical aspect. It means unlocking their vitality – a sense of aliveness with physical strength and mental wellness to transform them into the best version of themselves! Here’s how to do so.
- Healthy Children Grow up Happy!
The first and perhaps most important way to raise a happy and successful child is to look after your child’s general health and well-being. Oftentimes, parents overthink what this entails. Turns out, it’s really about taking simple steps like ensuring that your child eats and sleeps well, and is physically active.
Sleep is essential for children as their bodies need sufficient rest to repair themselves. Furthermore, sleep plays an important role in regulating the immune system, making children less susceptible to illnesses¹. Keep your child’s bedtime and rising time consistent so they always get sufficient sleep!
We know how competitive the education landscape in Singapore is. But children shouldn’t spend the bulk of their after-school hours studying. Remember, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Aim for your child to have at least an hour of physical activity every day². You can even make this a part of your family’s routine by doing sports or playing games together. This keeps your child healthy, and definitely happy as well!
- Your Superstar Needs Superfood!
Nutrition is key for your child’s health and well-being. Avoid processed food or junk food. Instead, children should eat a variety of food that includes a mix of whole grains, protein, dairy, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help your child to receive immunity-boosting nutrients like Vitamin A, B Complex, C, D and minerals like zinc and iron that will help them to prevent and fight infections2. The stronger their immune system, the fewer sick days they have. And that means more time to learn and play.
In addition to eating well, certain supplements such as those from the VitaHealth range can also help in boosting your child’s defences and strengthen their immune system. With over 70 years of experience, VitaHealth is trusted and recognised across Southeast Asia. VitaHealth believes in vitality for life, and that each day is a gift to a healthy body and mind. For a start, you can give your child the VitaHealth Kids SuperGum™ gummies which are specially designed with turmeric extract to boost your child’s natural defences. Turmeric has been long prized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as its powerful immune defence to protect the body against several childhood health conditions. Furthermore, turmeric is used to clear nasal tract congestion and relieve allergies and asthmatic conditions.
VitaHealth Kids SuperGum™ is free from preservatives so you can be sure it’s safe for your child’s consumption. The bottles come with child-proof caps and every 2 gummies contain 20g of turmeric extract. Children of two years and above, who can thoroughly chew and swallow, are recommended to take 2 gummies a day.
Lastly, don’t forget to remind your child to drink sufficient water to keep their bodies working the way it should!
- 21st Century Ready!
Your super child needs to be ready for the rapidly changing world. Among other things, to thrive in the 21st century, your child needs to be a critical and independent thinker and excel academically. The best way to achieve this is to role model these skills. Show your child how you make choices, solve problems, and ask questions about everything around you. Likewise, provide your child with plenty of opportunities to do so. Importantly, you want to avoid intervening or solving their problems too quickly. Pause, wait, ask open-ended questions, and give your child the space to make mistakes and learn from them!
Once again, diet and nutrition can contribute to your child’s success. To help your child to be a critical thinker, excel academically and develop 21st Century skills, you can feed them brain-boosting food. These include oily fish such as salmon, eggs, lean meat, nuts and seeds among others. VitaHealth Kids SuperGum™ also comes in handy, for it contains turmeric that is beneficial for boosting brain development and academic performance.
- Watch the Screen Time
Whether you love it or hate it, technology is here to stay so why not make the most of it? With technology, there is a dizzying array of options for your child to learn in a fun, engaging, and multi-modal manner. This can contribute to your child’s academic excellence and critical thinking skills, without too much emphasis on rote learning.
Having said that, too much screen time can be detrimental to your child’s eyesight. Make sure that your child takes sufficient breaks and does not spend too much of his or her day on devices.
You can also consider giving your child the VitaHealth Kids Blu-Lite Shield gummies. Yes, imagine protecting their eyesight with gummies? These gummies contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin derived from the Xanmax® marigold flower extract, which acts as natural sunglasses to filter out hazardous blue light from digital devices. These ingredients are also potent antioxidants that protect your child’s eyes against oxidative stress.
Here’s a bonus. Along with helping to protect your child’s eyes, these gummies also help them in their cognitive and academic performance. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids found in the macula, collectively known as macular pigment. The levels of macular pigment optical density correlate with the concentrations of these carotenoids in the brain and are associated with superior academic performance. Just like the VitaHealth Kids SuperGum™, VitaHealth Kids Blu-Lite Shield is also free from preservatives and comes with child-proof caps. Children above the age of 4 are recommended to take 2 gummies daily.
- A Healthy Mind for a Happy and Healthy Child
Last but certainly not least, do check on your child’s mental health. Children these days are stressed and often overwhelmed by the number of things they have to juggle. Take the time to bond with your child and to check on their mental well-being. Schedule off days when you indulge in the sweetness of doing nothing in particular or enjoy some activities chosen by your child. Talk about anything and everything and try to resolve any problems that you have. Mental health is of paramount importance and forms the bedrock of your child’s overall well-being.
So you see, mums and dads, raising a super child aren’t that difficult after all. We hope that you find these tips useful and that you will try some of them. While you’re at it, don’t forget to get your super child some awesome supplements from VitaHealth. VitaHealth firmly believes that nurturing your child’s body with the right nutrients, coupled with positive lifestyle modifications will help lay the foundation for their health and wellbeing. The VitaHealth kids’ range is available at selected stores at Watsons, Guardian, Unity, OG, Metro, Mustafa and VitaHealth Online Flagship stores. Enjoy an additional 15% off at VitaHealth Shopee Mall with promo code VITAKID15.
Start taking steps today for your child to have a better tomorrow!
References
- https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1860/should-kids-sleep-in-when-schools-out
- https://www.ciplamed.com/content/how-to-ensure-overall-well-being-of-your-child#:~:text=Ensure%20that%20your%20child%20is,at%20least%201%20hour%20daily.&text=Keep%20your%20child’%20s%20bedtime,or%20playing%20active%20games%20together.