Feeding healthy brains

Food is fuel for your child’s body and brain. Up until age seven, your child is growing very fast. He needs the best possible food to grow healthy and do well at school. Pap, bread and porridge are not enough for growing children. Try and give your child these foods every day:

• Fruit and vegetables are very important.  Children love to eat sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut, amadumbe and spinach – and you can grow them at home! Also give your child wild green leaves like imifio and morogo.
• Put a spoon of peanut butter in their porridge for energy to learn and play.
• Milk, eggs, beans, lentils and peas help children grow strong bones and teeth.
• Don’t give your child too many sweets or fizzy cold drinks.
• Too many salty foods like powdered soup and Aromat is also not healthy for children.
• Your child needs plenty of clean water to drink every day
• Remember, babies under 6 months should only have breast milk or formula.

Special Time With Your Child

Special time means spending time with your child in a meaningful way. When you spend time with your child you are building a positive relationship with her, which will make her feel supported and loved. The more supported and loved she feels, the less likely she will become involved in negative behaviours.

Your child is learning while she is playing. Special time supports your child to explore her world and learn to solve problems through play. Special time means spending time with your child while she plays but allowing her to choose the activity. By paying attention to her, you are showing her she is loved and appreciated and what she is doing is important to you. Try and spend at least five minutes in special time with your child every day. Here are some tips:

• Tell your child it’s special play time and let her decide the game she wants to play 
• Sit close to your child and give her your full attention 
• Don’t show your child how to play. She will learn it by herself!
• Praise your child when she does something you like. 
• If your child does something you don’t like, ignore it by looking away until she stops.
• Only interrupt your child if she does something dangerous or breaks a home rule.