Nutrition for Growing Bodies and Minds: A Parent's Guide

What our kids eat isn’t just about filling their bellies—it's about energizing their growing bodies and fueling bright, curious minds. From powering through homework sessions to energetic schoolyard games, the right nutrition plays a vital role in children’s health, focus, and development. To support your child’s well-being and set them up for success this back-to-school season, consider supplementing a healthy diet with an extra boost of wholesome, essential nutrition.

Childhood: The Growing Years

From infancy into adolescence, the human body undergoes a period of rapid growth and development, marked by key milestones across physical, cognitive, and emotional areas. Although every child’s journey will be unique in some ways, general health markers can help gauge their overall well-being. Here are a  few to consider:

• Physically, kids experience a steady growth in height and weight (including mini growth spurts) after the age of two, a progression in gross and fine motor skills (like walking, drawing, and tying shoelaces), and eventual puberty changes with adolescence. 

• Cognitive milestones include a growing vocabulary, imaginative and future thinking, problem-solving abilities, grasping more complex concepts, and increased communication skills. 
• Emotionally and socially, school-aged children show attachment bonds and desire friendships, progressively learn to self-regulate emotions, and gain a sense of independence and self-identity.

These formative years also lay the groundwork for long-term health, underscoring the importance of proper nutrition. One major player here is the diverse gut microbiome, which relies heavily on our diet to bolster the immune system and prevent the future development of chronic diseases too. Nutritional deficiencies during childhood have also been linked to stunted physical growth, delays in reaching developmental milestones, poor musculature and bone health, and difficulties in maintaining a healthy body weight–even into adulthood. 

In the classroom, malnutrition commonly translates into behavioural and cognitive issues associated with learning problems and poor academic performance. Comparatively, childhood diets rich in essential nutrients are associated with greater academic success.

Essential Nutrients of Childhood

There’s more to a “good” diet than just making sure little ones eat their greens (though that’s certainly part of it). According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, balanced meals for children–even if that means combining breakfast, lunch, and dinner with multiple snacks throughout the day–will typically consist of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, proteins, healthy oils/fats, water, and some dairy. This balanced approach ensures that kids get all the vital nutrients they need, including: 

• Vitamin A: Crucial for maintaining healthy vision, immune function, and the healthy formation of the heart, lungs, and tooth enamel.
• B Vitamins: This group of eight vitamins is essential for energy production, blood cell metabolism, cardiovascular health, and maintaining a healthy nervous system.
• Vitamin C: Known for its immune-boosting benefits during cold and flu season, vitamin C also supports healthy skin, wound healing, and healthy gums.

• Vitamin D: Referred to as the "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D plays a vital role in calcium absorption, bone health, and immune function. 
• Vitamin E: An antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage, supports immune function, and promotes healthy skin and eyes.
• Calcium: School-aged kids don’t necessarily need huge servings of dairy, as was once widely believed, but it’s still considered the best source of tooth- and bone-building calcium. There are also plant-based sources to consider for children with dietary restrictions. 

• Magnesium: Playing a supportive role in muscle function and relaxation for better sleep, magnesium also helps with the absorption of calcium.
• Zinc: Important for immune health, cell growth, and supportive of normal childhood growth.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These are critical for healthy brain development, cognitive function, and reducing inflammation, which can help with asthma and allergies. Omega-3 is also a natural support in the management of ADHD symptoms.  

Multitasking Supplement Superstars

Kids will be kids when it comes to picky eating, and life can also get in the way of getting those three square meals a day. This is when supplements are a great option for filling in the gaps. Consider these high-quality options that deliver multiple health benefits in every dose:

A good multivitamin offers a boost of essential nutrients. Multi Vitamin SoftChew Gummies and Multi Vitamin & Mineral are chock full of must-have ingredients, each selected to maintain optimal health and meet growing kids’ nutritional needs.

ChildLife Essentials gummies are made with the natural, sugar-free sweetening agents xylitol and stevia (unlike most options on the market) and come in kid-friendly flavors. They’re individually packaged in blister cards to maintain moisture and keep them from drying out. Depending on your kiddo’s preference, you can also try a liquid dose of multivitamins with a spoonful of orange and mango flavoring.

Formulated with calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D, Liquid Calcium with Magnesium offers a natural orange-flavored dose of powerhouse nutrients that work as a team for optimal bone health support.

Omega-3 DHA + Choline SoftChew Gummies are formulated with growing kids and learning in mind. These passion fruit-flavored supplements deliver omega-3 fatty acids DHA, EPA, choline, and vitamin D3 for an extra boost of cognitive support.

As kids head back to school, it’s important to consider how proper nutrition impacts not just markers of physical health, but also their rich inner worlds and overall well-being. Incorporating more essential nutrients into daily routines with balanced meals and help from natural supplements can make a world of difference along any child’s growing journey, setting the stage for a healthier, happier future too.

ChildLife Essentials offers high-quality nutritional supplements made for infants, toddlers, and growing children. Trusted by parents, our products support healthy development from immune support to daily vitamins. Nurture your child’s health with safe, effective, and delicious options. Learn more at childlifenutrition.com.