5 key strategies to ensure toddler's healthy development

Every parent strives to give their child the best possible start in life, but raising a toddler requires more than just love and care. From physical health to emotional well-being, toddlers need a strong foundation across various areas. As parents, it’s important to provide them with proper healthcare, nutrition, social skills, and creative expression to help them prepare for their life ahead.

Here are 5 tips to help parents support the holistic development of their children. After all, a happy, healthy, and well-rounded child is the ultimate reward for every parent.

1. Creative meals to ensure balanced nutrition
Ensuring a well-balanced diet is the most common challenge for parents today. However, making food fun and creative can significantly increase your child’s interest in trying new things. Incorporating playful elements, such as preparing meals in different shapes, using vibrant colours, or serving in appealing bento boxes, can make healthy eating more enjoyable. This will also enable parents to include fruits and vegetables in their toddler’s diet. Additionally, interacting with your child while preparing food and allowing them to participate can also increase their appetite.

2. Gentle vaccinations: Reducing discomfort with needle-free injections
The importance of vaccination cannot be stressed enough for infants and toddlers. It’s their first step towards healthcare and protects them from infectious and life-threatening diseases. However, the fear and anxiety around needle injections can be distressing for both the child and the parent. The advancement of Needle-Free Injection Systems (N-FIS), offers a safe and stress-free alternative to conventional needles.
With the growing adoption of N-FIS in clinics across India, this breakthrough technology is already helping to reduce the anxiety and discomfort often associated with childhood vaccinations. These innovative devices not only eliminate needle-related anxiety but also alleviate pain during immunizations, making doctor visits much smoother.

3. Outdoor activities : Interactive playtime to improve motor skills
In the age of technology, it is common to see your children glued to a screen rather than participating in physical activities. Outdoor activities are crucial for developing motor skills, promoting better physical health, and improving coordination. Hence, parents should prioritise helping their children develop a daily habit of any physical activity early on like playing, walking, running etc. Not only does this enhance their physical development, but it also promotes better sleep and a healthier appetite in kids.

4. Group activities to channel their inner creativity
Developing social skills early on is essential for a child’s emotional and intellectual growth. More group activities and better peer-to-peer interactions will increase self-awareness, improve language skills, and boost inner creativity. In group settings, children learn to control their emotions, work collaboratively, and strengthen their listening and attention span. Hence, parents should encourage their children to interact with people of different age groups to groom them for a better tomorrow.

5. Enhancing cognitive skills through music and movement
Music is an age-old technique used to entertain as well as pacify children, however its benefits extend far beyond. Exposure to rhythmic sounds and music can improve their cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, and overall movement. Additionally, music can also instil creativity, independent thinking and emotional development in kids early on.

By incorporating these five strategies into your daily routine, you can ensure your toddler is growing in a healthy way physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

(Author: Dr. Arun Wadhwa, MBBS, MD-Pediatrics)