Index
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How can we help our children from a parental perspective?
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A pharmacist mom shares the importance of diet for children.
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4 key methods to cultivate children's concentration!
In the digital age, children would face more distractions and challenges than ever before, making it harder for them to stay focused. The constant barrage of messages, social media, and games makes it inherently challenging for children to concentrate on tasks at hand, and it is even more difficult for those with attention deficits.
From a parental perspective, how can we help our children?
What’s the pharmacist's advice on attention deficits?
If there is the child with attention deficit in the family, it is crucial to have a comprehensive evaluation by a specialist. After screening and evaluation by the doctor, it will be determined whether the child requires medication. If medication is needed, parents should not reject the idea, worry excessively, or feel discouraged. Trust in the professional judgment of the doctor, and following the prescribed treatment can lead to improvements in the child's condition.
With medication treatment, children diagnosed with attention deficits will see significant improvements in their concentration. To achieve optimal results, as previously mentioned, it is essential to take the medication on time and in the correct dosage. Additionally, paying attention to the child’s daily diet and nutritional supplementation is also crucial, providing a dual approach to maintaining overall health.
As a pharmacist and a mother, I want to share the importance of diet for children.
Regarding the impact of diet on attention, I have gained deep insights from my son's experience.
I still remember when my son was in his second year of kindergarten, the teacher gently informed me that he would leave his seat during class, could not accurately follow instructions, and encountered some difficulties during group activities.
It is inevitable to feel worried , but I also reminded myself to take action quickly to help him. At that time, in addition to taking my son to a professional for evaluation, I also put in a lot of effort to learn about attention deficit from multiple angles.
The following 4 key methods to cultivate children's concentration!
Method 1: Increase Physical Activity Frequency
Since then, our family has developed many habits, such as increasing physical activity, including outdoor excursions, hiking, swimming, playing sports, and more. Moderately increasing physical activity helps improve concentration.
According to the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare's recommendations, preschool children should have more than 3 hours of physical activity daily, and this time should be spread throughout the day to avoid fatigue and prevent prolonged sitting for more than 30 minutes. Daily exposure to digital products (computer, communication, consumer electronics) should not exceed 1 hour.
As the child has now entered the school-age stage, it is recommended to participate in more than 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, including aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening, and bone-building activities. In addition to the school's physical education classes, the family should also arrange physical activities during leisure time to ensure the child is fully active, which will promote better sleep at night and support growth and development.
Method 2: Healthy Diet Habits, Moderate Reduction of Unhealthy Foods
While medication is a part of the treatment, controlling environmental factors is also crucial for a smoother treatment process, and "diet" is one of the key factors.
Since paying more attention to the child’s diet habits, I've noticed that this change has a significant impact on the child. From actual observations, it seems that too many sweets, food colorings, and processed foods can increase the child's emotional fluctuations and make it harder for them to focus on learning.
Changing diet habits is easy to start, but maintaining them requires long-term parental support and patient guidance. Aside from accompanying the child in learning every day, I am also very mindful of choosing healthy foods and nutritional supplements, hoping that the child can achieve better learning results.
Diet should follow the Ministry of Health and Welfare's daily dietary guidelines, especially the intake of 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruits daily. Each meal should include a portion of beans, fish, eggs, or meat roughly the size of the palm. Prioritize high-quality protein and minimize the intake of processed meats and high-fat meats.
Certain specific nutrients, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium, are essential for maintaining normal functions and transmission. However, unhealthy eating habits often lack these nutrients. Therefore, parents should pay extra attention to ensure that the child's learning development and cognitive function are normal, thereby helping to enhance concentration.
Suggestion is inclined to moderately reducing the intake of unhealthy foods, rather than completely banning them. Occasional moderate consumption within acceptable limits is encouraged. Excessive and strict restrictions may cause the child to resist. Parents can educate the child on the impact of food on health to help them understand the consequences of poor dietary choices.
Pharmacists remind parents that if food contains high levels of saturated fats or added sugars from highly processed foods, they should reduce consumption. When selecting products, avoid those with excessive additives such as preservatives, food colorings, and artificial flavors. Opt for whole foods and home-cooked meals to better care for the child's health.
Method 3: Supplementing with Additional Nutrients
When we cannot cook every meal ourselves, dining out often makes it difficult to achieve a balanced diet. Therefore, pharmacists suggest that moderate supplementation with additional nutrients can help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Medication, lifestyle habits, physical activities, daily diet, and dietary supplements work together to maintain the child's health.
Research has found that children with difficulty focusing have significantly lower levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies, which keeps the body's protective system in a state of alert, affecting sleep, behavior, emotions, mood, and learning. Therefore, I often recommend that parents moderately supplement their children with Omega-3 fish oil. This can maintain general health, assist in learning, and have a calming effect on particularly active children.
Method 4: Accompanying and Communicating are the Greatest Support
In a family, parents have the greatest influence on their children. The child's feelings, emotions, and thoughts mostly come from their parents, so the daily interaction and communication methods between parents and children are crucial.
Parents should interact with their children in a "positive" way, avoiding excessive pressure, and using rewards and encouragement whenever possible. Behavioral reinforcement helps children build confidence, making them more confident in exploring and learning. Here are a few core points I recommend:
- Avoid repeatedly using the word "no."
- Speak to the child clearly, calmly, and slowly.
- Give only one task at a time to ensure the child can complete it.
- Reward focused behavior.
- Start with simple daily self-care tasks at home, such as eating, sleeping, or homework, and establish a regular routine to cultivate good habits.
In an era of overwhelming and complex digital information, family support, organized guidance and training, coupled with good lifestyle habits, are all effective methods in addition to medication. Parents should lead the way in guiding their children towards concentration built, which will help them find the right path more effectively than if they were to explore on their own helplessly. This approach will undoubtedly benefit the child’s health, life, and learning.
Reference：
Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare
Writer：Pharmacist Shi