Malaysia has entered the endemic phase. I repeat—Malaysia has entered the endemic phase!
It feels like time has gone by in a flash, but at the same time, it feels like the pandemic is all we’ve ever known!
Lockdown and extended quarantine period have affected children’s development. According to UNICEF, at least one in seven children—that is, 332 million children—globally have lived under required or recommended nationwide stay-at-home policies for at least nine months since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
As you juggle work-from-home and your growing child, we know you are doing your best to ensure their development (both learning and growth) is not affected.
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
Though we do not have a study on how the lockdown has impacted the IQ of Malaysian children yet, we can draw semblance from a new study reported by Society for Research in Child Development.
The Uruguay-based study compared two groups of children aged four to six. They found that the children seemed to experience loss in motor and cognitive development. They also lacked motivational attitudes towards learning after the lockdown.
This could pose a threat to the educational achievements of Malaysian children as the schooling system moves forward.
Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ)
EQ is the term used when referring to emotional intelligence. Again, there is no study on how COVID-19 has affected the EQ of Malaysian children, but a study on Spanish children has revealed a reduction in emotional intelligence and intrapersonal, interpersonal, and adaptability scales caused by their vulnerability to negative situations.
The authors highlight that the reason could be due to the ‘house arrest’ they have had to deal with during the lockdown. Children forced to be homebound with little interaction with nature spurs negative emotions, leading to the reduction of their EQ levels.
Social Intelligence Quotient (SQ)
Social intelligence is vital to numerous aspects of a person’s life as it helps individuals build relationships. Strong leaders often possess social intelligence in abundance. To motivate people, leaders must develop relationships and inspire others to want to do what needs to be done.
Do you want your children to be the leaders of tomorrow?
According to Indonesian research, good social competence among young children has proven to be a predictor of healthy self-adjustment later in life, while poor social competence during their adolescent years has proven to be a predictor of criminality and psychopathology.
Naturally, parents would want their children to develop good SQ, though it is not held with obvious priority in the community. With lockdowns, interaction with the outside world is greatly reduced, affecting the way they interact with the world comfortably.
Brain Development
Now that we know children’s IQ, EQ and SQ are highly likely ‘compromised’ due to the lockdown, the reasonable thing to do is to supplement them with nutritious food to help them catch up.
One of the most crucial ways is to supplement them with Gangliosides (GA®).
It may be a new term to you, but essentially, Gangliosides (GA®) are complex glycolipids found throughout the body. They help form brain cell connections. They are involved in cell structure and function, particularly in the brain and hence equally important as DHA.
Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) contains Gangliosides and phospholipids. Children supplemented with MFGM showed improved emotional regulation. According to a 2020 study, oral ganglioside treatment improved toddler neurodevelopment (Tan et al, 2020).
Where Do You Find Gangliosides (GA®)?
Anmum
It is more than just milk for your children, it is supplemented with MFGM-Gangliosides-DHA.
Taking a two-prong approach, Anmum
Many people think added sugar equals sucrose, but it covers glucose syrup solids, corn syrup solids, fructose and added lactose too, among others. A study has shown that higher sugar consumption may lead to lower verbal intelligence scores. Yes, it is alarming.
Hence parents must be vigilant and religiously check the ingredient list for added sugars in a children’s formulated milk powder.
Currently, Anmum
It is also scientifically formulated with Prebiotic (Inulin) and 15 key nutrients (visual below) to help support the nutritional needs of a growing up child.
More Reason to Introduce Anmum
While Anmum
Made with milk powder from New Zealand and backed by more than 90 years of research in the Fonterra New Zealand R&D centre, Anmum
Anmum
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^Referring to the product label of major brands of formulated milk powder for children.
**Sucrose, Glucose Syrup Solid, Corn Syrup Solid, Brown Sugar, Dextrose, Lactose, Fructose, Honey and White Sugar are defined as ‘sugars’ and ‘added sugars’ under CODEX Standard 212-1999 and CAC/GL23-1997. CODEX develops harmonised international food standards guidelines and code of practices. Under Malaysia Food Regulations 1985, Sucrose, Brown Sugar, Dextrose, Glucose, Fructose, Honey are defined as sweetening substances.
References
At least 1 in 7 children and young people has lived under stay-at-home policies for most of the last year, putting mental health and well-being at risk. UNICEF. (2021). Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/least-1-7-children-and-young-people-has-lived-under-stay-home-policies-most-last#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%2C%204%20March%202021,at%20risk%2C%20UNICEF%20warned%20today
González, M., Loose, T., Liz, M., Pérez, M., Rodríguez‐Vinçon, J. I., Tomás‐Llerena, C., & Vásquez‐Echeverría, A. (2022). School readiness losses during the COVID‐19 outbreak. A comparison of two cohorts of young children. Child Development. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13738
Martin-Requejo, K., & Santiago-Ramajo, S. (2021). Reduced Emotional Intelligence in Children Aged 9–10 caused by the COVID ‐19 Pandemic Lockdown. International Mind, Brain, and Education Society. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mbe.12297
Cohen, J.F.W., Rifas-Shiman, S., Young, J., Oken, E. (2018). Associations of Prenatal and Child Sugar Intake With Child Cognition. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6), 727-735. Retrieved May 26, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.amepre.2018.02.020
Palmano, K., Rowan, A., Guillermo, R., Guan, J., & McJarrow, P. (2015). The role of gangliosides in Neurodevelopment. Nutrients, 7(5): 3891–3913. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4446785/
S., Prastuti, E., Hitipeuw, I., & Bahrodin, A. (2021). Children’s Social Competence Learning Strategies for building mental health during covid-19. KnE Social Sciences, 224–235. Retrieved May 26, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v4i15.8209
Tan S, Zhao A, Zhang J, Li P, Chen C, Zhang Y (2020). Toddler neurodevelopment is associated with ganglioside intake but not serum ganglioside. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 29(3), 584-592. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.202009_29(3).0018.
Veereman-Wauters, G., Staelens, S., Rombaut, R., Dewettinck, K., Deboutte, D., Brummer, R.-J., Boone, M., & Ruyet, P. L. (2012). Milk fat globule membrane (INPULSE) enriched formula milk decreases febrile episodes and may improve behavioral regulation in young children. Nutrition, 28(7-8), 749-752. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2011.10.011
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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