AFTER my children passed their toddler years and entered school, I discovered an unexpected gap in my parenting journey, which was nutrition. There seemed to be plenty of advice about feeding babies and toddlers, but much less practical guidance about what growing school-age children needed to stay healthy, energetic and ready to learn.
As a mother and licensed educator, I have always believed that learning begins long before a child opens a textbook.
That is why Abbott’s recent Fast Learners Field Day caught my attention. This gathering, held in Manila, brought families together for interactive activities and an expert-led discussion on nutrition, child development and building strong foundations for learning.
One insight worth exploring is the gut-brain connection. We often associate a healthy tummy with comfortable digestion. Gut health is one part of children’s overall well-being, although it would be too simple to say that one nutrient or product determines how quickly a child learns.
‘A healthy tummy does more than support digestion,’ explained Dr. Gamaliel Tayao, head of medical affairs for Abbott’s nutrition business in the Philippines. ‘It also sends positive signals to the brain that can support mood, behavior, immunity and even learning.’ He discussed Abbott’s research into human milk oligosaccharides, or HMOs, special prebiotics studied for their role in supporting beneficial gut bacteria and immune health.
Abbott reported findings from research on an infant formula containing five HMOs: compared with children receiving formula without those added HMOs, participants had 40 percent fewer healthcare visits and an average of 3.4 fewer sick days. The company also reported differences in early language-related behaviors, including word imitation and understanding everyday phrases. These infant study findings do not guarantee better school performance.
What I especially liked about the event was that learning was something children could experience, not merely hear about. Its Fast Learner Trails invited families to move through three stations, each highlighting a different aspect of growth.
At the first station, children explored creative challenges designed to encourage imagination, problem-solving and confidence. Similac GainSchool highlighted its formulation with added gangliosides, nutrients the brand associates with brain development. But the activity also illustrated something I often share in this column: Play gives children room to experiment, make mistakes and try again. The second station focused on digestive comfort and its relationship to children’s ability to participate in daily activities. It featured Similac TummiCare HW and its Triple Comfort Blend, including partially hydrolyzed whey protein. Parents should discuss persistent digestive symptoms or suspected allergies with their pediatrician rather than choose a formula solely on a promotional claim.
The third station addressed differences in children’s earliest experiences. Babies born by Cesarean section may develop somewhat different early gut-microbe patterns from those born vaginally, although many factors shape the microbiome over time. Abbott introduced Similac Essencia+, formulated with five HMOs, BB-12 probiotics and nucleotides to support gut and immune health.
For me, the larger message is that good parenting means looking at the whole child. We cannot separate physical comfort from emotional security, or curiosity from the confidence to explore.
So what can we do at home? First, build regular meals around variety: vegetables, fruits, protein foods, whole grains and other nutrient-rich choices suited to a child’s age. Second, protect sleep and make time for active play. Third, observe your child and understand that each child is born unique, instead of comparing milestones with classmates or siblings. Finally, ask what made your child curious and want to learn today.
As parents, we can also invite children into the kitchen, and even in grocery shopping. Let them choose colorful vegetables, help prepare a simple baon or talk about how different foods help the body. Let nutrition be part of the bonding time with our child by searching healthy recipes online. Nutrition becomes less of a lecture and more of a shared family purpose.
If a child has limited food preferences, recurring tummy discomfort or growth concerns, professional advice can help families identify what is needed. Supplements and specialized milk formulas may have a place for some children, but they are not substitutes for varied meals, responsive parenting, or appropriate medical guidance.
As parents, we can ask more questions about nutrition when our children first enter school. We can stay curious, seek reliable guidance and observe.
Our goal is not to raise children who learn the fastest. It is to nurture children who are healthy enough to explore, secure enough to ask, and confident enough to keep trying. When we nourish both their bodies and their curiosity, we help them discover a lifetime of joy and possibilities.