THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2020
BRIGHT KIDS
IT is every parent’s dream to see their
children grow strong and healthy. However,
most parents tend to focus on their children’s
physical health and not their brain health.
Dr Sangita Dharshini Terumalay, consultant
paediatrician and paediatric neurologist at
Subang Jaya Medical Centre, says that it is
time for parents to start paying more
attention to their children’s brain health,
especially in the early years.
The early years are very important
because the brain is developing the most
rapidly. This is when brains have high
plasticity and can retain a high percentage of
everything that is learnt, forming strong
connections that last for life. When asked to
describe what can be defined as a healthy
brain, she says, “In medical terms, a healthy
brain would encompass the absence of
diseases or conditions that affect the brain
either neurologically or developmentally.”
She also says that in order to nurture a
healthy brain, there are at least five main
areas that parents can focus on to boost
better brain health. These areas are
nutrition, screen time, sleep, parental
involvement and playtime.
Being a parent is not an easy task.
However, with a little help from online
resources, parenting magazines and your
neurologist, parents can make better
Nutrition
Nutrition is essential for brain
development, especially during the
phase of rapid brain growth. Adequate
energy, protein, fatty acids and
micronutrients should be made
available during this foundation period,
establishing the basis for healthy brain
growth and development.
Dr Sangita suggests that parents pay
attention to what their children eat and
drink, and focus on providing food that
have high nutritive value.
In the first six months of life,
breastfeeding would be ideal as breast
milk contains long-chain polyunsaturated
fatty acids, choline, phospholipids and
other components that can promote brain
growth. Another example that is more
suited for children is the Mediterranean
diet, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids
Screen time
Screen time is time where the child is
exposed to interactive electronic devices
such as television, mobile phones and
computers. The American Academy of
Paediatrics recommends that children
below two years old avoid digital media
other than video chats. Children aged two
to five should not watch more than one
hour of high-quality children’s programme
per day.
Dr Sangita strongly disagrees with the
approach of exposing your children to
technology such as mobile phones or
tablets from an early age. “Do not use
technology as a babysitter to keep kids
calm and quiet,” she says.
A journal article published in JAMA
Pediatrics titled Associations between
screen-based media use and brain white
Parental involvement
It is understandable for parents to get
extremely busy with their work and
household chores. However, Dr Sangita
advises that you spend a short amount
of time engaging with your children.
“Even if you are only able to spend 15 to
30 minutes a day with your children, do it.
Parental involvement should start early
Nurture them early
Sleep
It is important for children to get
adequate sleep. There is a
recommendation on appropriate sleep
duration by age as provided by the United
States’ National Sleep Foundation.
Dr Sangita says that sleep consolidates
memory and this directly helps with
learning. Lack of sleep can affect
children’s mood and behaviour. “Children
who do not get enough sleep will get
cranky the next day, and potentially
disrupt their learning sessions.”
Dr Sangita also stresses that it is
important for children to have a bedtime
routine. This routine comprises activities important to develop a good sleep cycle.
you do with your children as you prepare It should be maintained over weekends.
Dr Sangita Dharshini Terumalay. them for bedtime. Taking a bath, letting We should not allow children to wake
them choose their pyjamas, dimming the up very late over the weekend as well as
decisions to improve their children’s lights and reading them a story are it will disrupt their sleep pattern, and in
brain health. examples of a bedtime routine. turn disrupt school when it starts up
She says, “Having a bedtime routine is again for the week.”
n For more information, call 03-5639 1212.
United States’ National Sleep Foundation’s
recommended sleep duration
that have the potential to improve visual
and neural development. Examples of May be
Age Recommended
foods that are high in omega-3 are fish appropriate
and nuts.
Children who are not adequately Newborns 11 - 13 hours
nourished are at risk of failing to reach 0 - 3 months 14 - 17 hours 18 - 19 hours
their developmental potential in cognitive,
motor, and socioemotional abilities. These
abilities are strongly linked Infants 10 - 11 hours
to academic achievement 4 - 11 months 12 - 15 hours 16 - 18 hours
and economic
productivity. Dr Sangita
strongly believes that Toddlers 9 - 10 hours
parents should limit 1 - 2 years 11 - 14 hours 15 -16 hours
non-nutritive food,
including processed
food such as sausages Preschoolers 8 - 9 hours
and nuggets and 3 - 5 years 10 - 13 hours 14 hours
foods that are high
in sugar.
School children 7 - 8 hours
6 - 13 years 9 - 11 hours 12 hours
Teenagers
8 - 10 hours
7 hours
14 - 17 years 11 hours
matter integrity in preschool-aged children
explains that brain scans of children aged
between three and five who had more Young adults 6 hours
screen time than the recommended 18 - 25 years 7 - 9 hours 10 - 11 hours
duration without parental involvement
had lower levels of development in the
brain’s white matter, a key area for Adults 6 hours
development of language, literacy and 26 - 64 years 7 - 9 hours 10 hours
cognitive skills. Excessive
screen time is also
associated with obesity Older adults 5 - 6 hours
and sleep disturbances. Above 65 years 7 - 8 hours 9 hours
Parents should set
limits and watch or play
with their children
during screen time as
this encourages social Playtime
interaction, bonding
and learning. Children learn through play. Play allows
children to utilise their creativity while
developing their imagination, dexterity
and physical, cognitive and emotional
strength. The United Nations High
Commission for Human Rights deems
on, even if we think our children are not play as a right for every child.
ready for it.” Parents should promote unscheduled,
There a many ways for parents to be independent child-driven play and engagement with various sensory
involved in their children’s daily activities, emphasise the use of toys such as wooden domains. Even when you are feeding
including by singing them nursery rhymes blocks and dolls. Being indoors can keep your infant, you should encourage messy
or reading them storybooks. You could children safe, but spending active time eating and allow the child to make a mess
also get involved by playing board games outdoors is equally important. and explore the colours, textures and
and puzzles with them. Encourage messy play as this promotes taste of each food item.
2 Bright Kids THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2020

Resilient teachers make

EDUCATOR'S DESK

positive role models

LIFE under the Movement Control Order has
been extremely challenging for all of us.
There is a saying that we never appreciate
the value of water until the pipe runs dry.
That is true with a lot of other things, too.
We always take people, things and freedom
for granted, especially if we have never been
without them. Sometimes, going without can
be a great teacher.
The uncertainties surrounding us with the
Covid-19 crisis reminds me of a folk tale: A
man facing many problems in his life went
to see a palm reader. The palm reader
carefully scanned the man’s right hand and
said, “You will struggle badly and hardly
cope in the next three months as you will
have lots of problems along the way.” Trying
to look at the positive side, the man asked
curiously, “Does this mean all my problems
will go away after three months?” The palm
reader smiled and replied, “You will still
have problems after three months, but by
then you will have gotten used to them.”
Though the story was used to make people
smile and accept reality, if we look at it
deeply, it clearly reveals the power of human
resilience. I think the ability to bounce back
is the most important life skill for humans to
survive in this world filled with challenges
and uncertainties. As American civil rights
activist Maya Angelou rightly said, “I can be
changed by what happens to me, but I refuse
to be reduced by it.”
With the economy taking a huge hit and
the financial situation of people worsening
due to this Covid-19 crisis, there is already
pressure on private educational institutions
around the world as education has been
Ms Kothai Chidambaram
Principal of elc International
School Cyberjaya Campus
impacted particularly hard by this
pandemic. In the face of this adversity,
what has particularly impressed me has
been the resilience that can be witnessed
among teachers, who were traditionally
trained to teach in physical classrooms,
adapting to online classrooms at such short Dedicated teachers who are willing to adapt and learn new skills during the Movement Control
notice. This makes it evident that adversity Order consequently offer students a meaningful and an invaluable learning experience.
is the best teacher to help push us out of
our comfort zone and become more students that made her teary-eyed, “We can The lesson that I am learning from these
creative and resourceful. see you trying to do something for us that extraordinary teachers is that every
Recently, an elderly teacher with decades you are not familiar with or comfortable challenge that comes along can be turned
of teaching experience shared a heart- using. We respect your effort and time in into an opportunity to learn and shine if we
warming story with me about her online getting this right to make us learn. We do want it to. We must all recognise the power
classroom experience with her most senior learn when we see you learning for us.” of that resilience and appreciate that true
students. When she got stuck with a feature Resilient teachers are the best role models education is not about giving a child a fish,
in her online classroom platform and tried for students as they teach by example. They but about teaching them how to fish.
to figure it out, she felt bad and apologised do not just teach you how to do well in
to the students for making them wait. She curriculum subjects, but also how to stay n Kothai Chidambaram is principal of elc
recalled the comment from one of her strong and spirited during challenging times. International School Cyberjaya Campus.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2020 3
4 Bright Kids
EDUCATOR'S DESK
MANY schools are conducting online
learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, implementation and monitoring
of online learning is important to achieve
the best possible learning outcomes.
Below are the top 10 concerns or
questions parents may have about how
Sri Bestari International School (SBIS)
has embraced e-learning during the
Covid-19 crisis:
Q: Does SBIS use a centralised platform
for online learning?
A: Yes. SBIS uses Schoology as its main
virtual platform for students, parents and
teachers to keep parents updated about
their children’s learning progress, updates,
homework submission and conferences.
The use of G Suite and Zoom also enable
students to hold group discussions and
meet their friends virtually.
Q: Are children’s motivation to learn
affected during online learning?
A: Yes, so it is important to pique their
interests and relate the subjects taught
with the current crisis. To this end, SBIS
implemented the Special Learning
programme with thematic learning and
industry analysis about Covid-19.
Thematic learning based on science,
technology, engineering, arts and
mathematics (STEAM) were incorporated as
part of SBIS’ learning outcomes. Bestarians
worked in groups to analyse industries or
companies of their interest, specifically
focusing on how these companies
innovated to adapt to the pandemic.
Bestarians were given the freedom to
choose the industry of their interest and be
“consultants” to companies to propose
creative and innovative solutions to adapt
to the current climate. The objectives of this
Covid-19 industry analysis was to promote
fun learning and collaboration among
peers and provide opportunities for
Bestarians to interview industry
entrepreneurs (through webinar sessions)
selected by team members to be engaged
Concerns about e-learning
global citizens.
Q: What if I have issues with Internet
connectivity and my child misses lessons
quite frequently?
A: Pre-recorded sessions for core subjects
remain one of the new initiatives that SBIS
has carried out during the MCO period,
other than sending out worksheets, notes
and lesson updates via our learning
environment platform. Students who miss
lessons can watch the videos uploaded by
teachers and catch up at their own paces.
Besides that, students can rewatch videos
for revision purposes.
Q: Is it true that there aren’t any fun or
hands-on experiments or activities
conducted during online lessons?
A: During the MCO, the school has
conducted various programmes and lessons
involving experiments and activities such as
arts and crafts, Fun with Maths, Fun with
Science, Science Explorers, and My Little
MBA, to enhance students’ analytical,
problem-solving and observation skills.
Music lessons are not limited to just singing
and dancing; they also incorporate music
technology lessons using GarageBand.
Q: Will my child become passive during
online lessons?
A: SBIS has incorporated various activities
such as Creative Corners, Virtual TED Talk
Sessions and storytelling to unleash
children’s creativity and ability to express
their thoughts. Each child presented the
creative work he had accomplished at home,
thus becoming a teacher to his peers.
This promoted synergy and
competitiveness for children to think out of
the box. It also encouraged students to learn
ICT skills using Google Slides and explore
their creativity in presentation at a much
younger age. “What’s Trending” is our daily
session to groom Bestarians into engaged
citizens and be aware of what is happening
around the globe.
Q: Should I be concerned about the
screen time my child is being exposed to?
A: The school has revised its schedule to
ensure each core subject is divided into
three segments: content delivery via face-to-
face sessions, classwork sessions (off-screen
work for students during which teachers
remain online to address questions) and
focus groups (personalised sessions for
selected students). Screen time is regulated
and extended lunch breaks are awarded to
ensure students and parents are given the
rest they need during online learning.
Q: How do the teachers assess students’
progress and learning outcomes?
A: Our learning platform enables students
to upload their homework and projects to be
assessed online. Besides that, teachers use
fun methods such as online quizzes and
class participation to ensure students
achieve the intended learning objectives.
Q: My child is introverted and shy. Will
online learning be effective for him?
A: Subject teachers take daily attendance
for each period and require students to turn
on their webcams throughout online
lessons. Parents will be contacted for
verification if their child is absent from our
virtual school on that day. It has been
observed that children who are quiet tend to
express themselves more boldly through
online chatboxes during lessons.
Q: Do students attend society meetings?
A: The school’s Google Calendar delineates
THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2020
Dr Wong Siew Chin
Principal of SBIS
academic lessons from 8am to 3:30pm, after
which virtual society meetings are held as an
optional after-school programme. The online
calendar is to ensure students and parents
keep track of the revised schedules.
Q: Will children lose out on festive and
fun celebrations because the school is
closed?
A: Not at all. The school recently celebrated
Teachers’ Day and Hari Raya, during which
there was even the singing of Negaraku and
SBIS’ school song. The celebrations were a
combination of pre-recorded and live
performances, coupled with lovely messages
dedicated to teachers and our Muslim
friends. Embracing diversity and getting the
school together virtually was made possible
thanks to the partnership between the school
and parents, who are both committed to
bringing out the best of the children at SBIS.
n For enquiries about SBIS’ next intake, call
the Admission Department at 03-6263 9923
(ext.201/209) or email info_sbis@bestari.edu.
my