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Good food and nutrition are the foundation of children’s health and bring benefits that can last a lifetime. Teaching your child about healthy eating from a young age will help them to have a positive relationship with food well into adulthood. And believe it or not, shaping these habits can be fun and healthy – not just for your child, but your…, 1. Promote positive habits, Your little ones watch everything you do – including at mealtime. You can be a good role model by reaching for healthy foods, beverages and snacks yourself, and engaging in fun physical activity. Choosing to put healthy, whole foods on the table sets a great example for your child. Try including your children in food shopping and preparation. They…, 2. Maintain a healthy relationship with food, Having a healthy mindset around eating is key for lifelong health and protecting against illnesses like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. You can help guide your young child by: Helping them understand whether they are physically hungry. This will help them to become in tune with their body’s needs. Staying away from using food as a reward or…, 3. Let go of “clean your plate!”, Although you might think this could help your child get the nutrients needed from food, these behaviours can lead to disliking foods and having negative associations with mealtime. If you can’t get your child to eat their veggies, try to have them see you eating and enjoying them yourself. Your little one learns about food choices from you, so try…, 4. Make portion control a priority, Oversized portions can lead to weight gain, so it is important to teach your children about how much food they should have on their plate. An easy way to teach your child about child-portion sizes is to use visuals for example: A closed fist is recommended for a portion of pasta, rice or cereal. A meat portion should be about as big as their palm…, 5. Start the day with a healthy breakfast, Mornings can be a rush for many families, but starting the day with a balanced meal helps your child get the important nutrients – such as calcium and fibre – needed for their growth and development. Try to create breakfasts with nutrient-dense ingredients like plain yoghurt and fresh fruit instead of sweetened cereals or pastries, which tend to…, 6. Make activity fun, Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Why not join in the fun? Try to plan family activities that get everyone moving such as after-dinner walks or swimming. And be spontaneous when you see an opportunity, like dancing together when a favourite song comes on the radio. It is also important to encourage your child to limit…

It can be difficult to watch your child struggling with their weight. As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your children – especially when they are stressed. Here are some ways to help support your child if you are worried that their weight may be affecting their health and well-being. If you are concerned about your child’s…, Avoid blame, Young people can gain weight due to several reasons outside of their control or individual behaviour, often with complex causes. Children who struggle with their weight frequently experience bias, stigma and bullying. It’s critical to stay away from blaming your child, and instead try to understand the structural issues at play that encourage…, Have healthy conversations, In a fast-changing digital landscape, it is important to remain aware of threats to the mental health and well-being of your child as it relates to their confidence and body image issues. These can range from social media posts stereotyping weight or encouraging eating disorders, to the constant corporate marketing of unhealthy junk food targeting…, Focus on healthy behaviours, Unless advised by a health professional, focus on “health and a healthy goals” rather than weight loss. Healthy eating and physical activity behaviours do not become routine overnight. It takes time, effort and perseverance from you and your child to make changes that last. Any big, sudden alterations to your child’s diet and lifestyle are…

There comes a time when every parent struggles with how best to discipline their child. Whether dealing with a screaming toddler or an angry teen, it can be hard to control your temper. No parent wants to find themselves in such a situation and the bottom line is that shouting and physical violence never help. Thankfully, there are other, more…, Why positive discipline?, “Parents don't want to shout or hit their kids. We do it because we're stressed and don't see another way,” says Professor Cluver. The evidence is clear: shouting and hitting simply do not work and can do more harm than good in the long run. Repeated shouting and hitting can even adversely impact a child’s entire life. The continued “toxic stress…, Engaging with younger children, One-on-one time can be fun – and it’s completely free! “You can copy their expressions, bang spoons against pots, or sing together,” adds Professor Cluver. “There’s amazing research showing that playing with your children boosts their brain development.”, Engaging with older children, Like younger children, teenagers seek praise and want to be thought of as good. One-on-one time is still important to them. “They love it if you dance around the room with them or engage in a conversation about their favourite singer,” says Professor Cluver. “They may not always show it, but they do. And, it's an effective way of building a…, Advice for parents during the COVID-19 pandemic , The pandemic has brought about sudden and drastic changes in the lives of families with parents directly in the middle of it. Here are some tips that can help parents get through these and any other stressful times: 1. Pause We all know the stress when we feel our child is being difficult. At moments like these, being present and stepping back is…

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As of March 2020, the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and the virus has spread to many countries and territories. While COVID-19 continues to spread, it is important that communities take action to prevent further transmission, reduce the impacts of the outbreak and…

Speak baby talk. Baby talk may sound silly to you, but not to your child! In the first 1,000 days, your baby’s brain develops at a pace never repeated again. Baby talk helps give your child the best start in life. Baby talk is much more than just a silly and cute way of talking to babies. Actually, baby talk is more about how we say things. When…, Why is baby talk important?, Parents should immerse their babies in speech. Listening to more baby talk helps babies build their own language abilities. Baby talk works like a spotlight – babies hear a lot of sounds around them. But when they hear baby talk, they know that it’s time to start listening and paying attention. This happens for two reasons: First, baby talk is…, When should I use baby talk?, When we see a baby, most of us instinctively use baby talk. But it still does not come naturally to everyone. Parents should start practising baby talk from early on so they can learn what type of baby talk to use. The best time to practise baby talk is when you engage in daily routines with your baby. For example, when you’re feeding, bathing or…

What are vaccines?, Vaccines are products that are usually given in childhood to protect against serious, often deadly diseases. By stimulating your body’s natural defenses, they prepare your body to fight the disease faster and more effectively., How do vaccines work?, Vaccines help your immune system fight infections more efficiently by sparking your immune response to specific diseases. Then, if the virus or bacteria ever invades your body in the future, your immune system will already know how to fight it., Are vaccines safe?, Vaccines are very safe. Your child is far more likely to be hurt by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine. All vaccines go through rigorous safety testing, including clinical trials, before they are approved for the public. Countries will only register and distribute vaccines that meet rigorous quality and safety standards., Why should I vaccinate my child?, Vaccines save lives. Measles vaccines alone are estimated to have prevented over 21 million deaths between 2000 and 2017. Vaccines will help protect your child against diseases that can cause serious harm or death, especially in people with developing immune systems like infants. It’s important to vaccinate your child. If not, highly contagious…, Can my baby handle all of these vaccines?, Yes. Many parents worry that multiple vaccines will overload their child’s immune system. But children are exposed to hundreds of germs every day. In fact, a common cold or sore throat will put a greater burden on your child’s immune system than vaccines., But these diseases are not present in my community. Do I still need to vaccinate my child?, Yes. Although the diseases may be eliminated in your country or region, our increasingly interconnected world means that these diseases could spread from areas where they are still present., What is herd immunity?, If enough people in your community are immunized against a certain disease, you can reach something called herd immunity. When this happens, diseases can’t spread easily from person to person because most people are immune. This provides a layer of protection against the disease even for those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants. Herd…, Can a vaccine cause my baby to get sick?, Vaccines are extremely safe. Almost all sickness or discomfort after vaccination is minor and temporary, such as a soreness at the injection site or mild fever. These can often be controlled by taking over-the-counter pain medication after vaccination. There is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism., What diseases do vaccines prevent?, Vaccines protect your child against serious illnesses like polio, which can cause paralysis; measles, which can cause brain swelling and blindness; and tetanus, which can cause painful muscle contractions and difficulty eating and breathing, especially in newborns., Can I delay the vaccine schedule?, One of the best ways you can protect your child is to follow the recommended vaccine schedule in your country. Any time you delay a vaccine, you’re increasing your child’s vulnerability to disease., Can I let my child get the chickenpox instead of getting the vaccine?, Although chickenpox is a mild disease that many parents will remember from childhood (the vaccine was introduced in 1995), some children will develop serious cases with complications that can be fatal or cause permanent disabilities. The vaccine eliminates the risk of complications from the disease, and prevents children from infecting their…, What is the recommended vaccine schedule?, Immunization schedules vary by country depending on which diseases are most prevalent. You can find an overview of the recommended vaccines and approximate dates from your local health centre, doctor or your government’s Ministry of Health.

Breastfeeding is not just about food. It’s part of a nurturing care package that helps children to grow and thrive throughout their entire lives. Based on the scientific evidence linked to the lifelong benefits of breastfeeding, UNICEF and WHO recommend that babies are exclusively breastfeed for six months, starting immediately after birth, and…

With every hug and every kiss, with every nutritious meal and game you play, you’re helping to build your baby’s brain. Did you know that up to 75 per cent of each meal goes to build your baby's brain? Or that over 80 per cent of your baby’s brain is formed by the age of 3? * *  Sources: Steen, The Evolving Brain: The Known and The Unknown, 2007; …, Here are some tips to help give your child the best start in life:, Parenting tips for newborns, Did you know? Within a few days, babies can start smiling when people smile at them. Provide ways for your baby to see, hear, move freely and touch you. While your baby’s movement will be jerky in the beginning, she/he will eventually learn how to control her/his movements. Look into your baby’s eyes and smile in response to her/his smiles. You…, Parenting tips for babies 1-6 months, Did you know? 1-3-month-old babies see things best when they are between 20-30 centimeters away. By 3 months, babies have a greater range of vision. Provide ways for your child to see, hear, feel, move freely and touch you. Your baby will slowly establish trust with you. Slowly move colorful things for your child to see and reach for. A simple,…, Parenting tips for babies 6-9 months, Up to 75 per cent of each meal goes toward building your baby’s brain. Did you know? At 6 months, your baby can eat anything except honey which should not be given until she/he is a year old. When asking a question, give plenty of time for your baby to answer. Count to 10 in your head. If no answer is given, then answer the question yourself. Try…, Parenting tips for babies 9-12 months, Did you know? To increase infants’ self-esteem and confidence, always take a positive approach to your child’s learning process. Try to say “yes”, “good”, “well done” more often, rather than “no”, “bad”, “not good”. Play hide and seek with your infant and see if he can find the objects you hide. You can hide something under a cloth, and say: “…, Parenting tips for toddlers 1-2 years, Did you know? Toddlers are especially happy when they see that they are making the adults around them happy as well. Give your child things to put into containers and take out. She/he will try to take them out and put them back on their own, which is great for the development of eye-hand coordination skills. Give your toddler things to stack up.…, Parenting tips for toddlers 2+ years, Did you know? Children learn better when they are taught how to behave well instead of being scolded for behaving badly. Ask simple questions and listen to the answers. Encourage your child to talk by asking questions such as: “What is this?”, “Where is the window?”, “Which ball is bigger?”, “Would you like the red cup?”. You should see your child…

Did you know that the most important interaction you can have with your child is through play? Building your baby’s brain sounds daunting, but don’t be intimidated. Parenting is much more of an art than a science.  The experiences young children have and their relationships with key caretakers literally shape the development of their brain. And…, Get to know your baby, The most important thing that any parent can do to support the development, and particularly the brain development of a young child, is to be able to read your child’s cues. Through this, you can engage in what we call “serve and return” interaction, a form of responsive parenting. A baby serves a smile, a coo, a babble, a gesture, and the parent…, Have fun with your baby, Play can occur when you are feeding a child, when you are changing the child’s clothes, when you are bathing a child. These are all opportunities for playful interaction and learning between adults and children. Make the idea of ‘serve and return’ something that is easy, friendly and relaxing, not a chore or something overly technical or rigid.…, Boost your baby’s brains with games, In infancy with very young babies, it’s all about interaction, bringing in visuals, sounds, looking your baby in the eye, making that personal connection, being sensitive to your baby’s feelings. The best games build a sense of emotional safety that allows growth. For example, when you cover your face with a cloth and play peekaboo, saying “Where’…

“Did you know that your baby is developing memory from as young as two or three weeks of age? A baby as young as two or three weeks will remember your smell.  What is ‘normal’ when it comes to babies and sleeping?  As babies’ brains develop, there are reasons for them not to sleep because there are things to be curious about; they’re engaging with…