Key Steps to Ensure My Child Reaches All Milestones

Of all the queries that I get from my readers, the most prominent ones are related to the growth and development milestones of kids. I know when it comes to our children we want only the best and to be sure of our choices, we seek help and answers from people we trust. I want to thank all those who reach out to me and trust my suggestions.

Since we are talking about growth and development in children, I want to share how parents worry a lot about their child’s health, immunity, growth, as well as their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Hence, they are always looking out for ways to ensure that their child reaches all milestones in time. Here are some of the common doubts I have heard from parents –

• “My child is not gaining weight and keeps falling sick. How to ensure that my child is growing right?”
• “My son is not growing in height. All his classmates are taller than him. Should I give him any nutritional supplement?”
• My daughter keeps losing her focus during the online class. How should I make her pay attention during the online class?”
• My kid just plays games on the phone all day. How should I reduce his screen time?”
• My child is a fussy eater. How can I make him love his veggies?”

If you have ever worried about any of this for your child then don’t be surprised because you are not alone in this. We all worry about our kids and that’s absolutely normal.

Nutrition plays an important role in a child’s development. Along with that stimulation activities and a nurturing environment play a significant role in their cognitive development. I have already talked about the importance of cognitive milestones[i] in my other post.

My son is now quite independent at this age he likes to make his own choices, be it for food, play, or entertainment. I no longer have full control over what he should eat, watch, or play. We talk and discuss, sometimes we have healthy arguments too but that also is a part of growing up.

There are 3 things that my son knows are most important for him to grow into a happy and healthy individual and I know that these will help him reach all milestones.

1 – Eating Healthy Food

Being from a foodie family, we love eating and experimenting with our food. The current situation helped in bringing the super chef out of us and we learned how to give our cravings a healthy offering. We try to make everything at home by giving our favourite junk food a healthy twist. Check out this healthy recipe of Veg Momos using Multigrain Atta. Watch the video below-

Another way I ensure Nemit gets his balanced meals is through PediaSure. Do you know that recently Abbott has launched the New PediaSure in India? Yes, the favourite of all mommies, PediaSure now comes enhanced with two important nutrients, Arginine and Vitamin K2. I was invited to be a part of the launch event and it was such an insightful session where we got to know so many amazing facts about bone growth and development in kids from the experts.

Did you know that 60% of kids’ bone growth happens by the age of 6?

I got to learn about the two super nutrients that are known to support bone growth. Arginine is an important amino acid that promotes cell growth in bones to help them grow faster in case of growth delay. Vitamin K2 helps to build stronger bones by transporting and absorbing calcium in the bones. The new PediaSure is scientifically designed to help bones grow longer and stronger to further support catch-up growth.

2 – Mindful Screen Time

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I have followed zero screen time for a long time for Nemit as suggested by his pediatrician since he had a speech delay. But when things normalized we gradually moved on to mindful screen time. However, when the online classes started, we had to make certain rules. Thankfully, Nemit understood the importance of having a routine and fixed screen time. Recently, in a post, I shared a list of 5 fun and educational shows for kids on YouTube. Do check it out.

3 – Indoor/Outdoor Activity

Kids need a daily dose of physical activity along with nutritious food for optimal growth and brain development. Even when my son is not able to go outside we make sure that he stays physically active. We dance and groove to our favourite songs, we play badminton in our living room, we even play table tennis on our dining table. When we are not able to play with him then he does ‘online yoga’ or plays ‘the floor is lava’ or ‘the freeze game’. There are also some brain-boosting games that we play as a family. Check out this video below-

Along with these brain games, you can also include other toys that can inspire creativity, brain development and also assist in building various skills in young children.

These are three simple steps I follow for Nemit’s overall health. While each child is different and we must let them grow at their own pace, some steps on our part reassure us that we’re on the right track. Why don’t you tell me what’s in your checklist to ensure your children reach all milestones?

References

[i] https://www.verywellmind.com/cognitive-developmental-milestones-2795109