Friday, June 9, 2017

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BRAIN & ANMUM GIVEAWAY!

‘GROW AMAZING’ INITIATIVE BY ANMUM™ ESSENTIAL EDUCATES PARENTS ABOUT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Hi there my lovelies, thanks for dropping by my blog! I have some important info to share with you all today about how our children's brains develop and the nutrition that's needed to support that growth, Read on to find out more and for a chance to win a prize in my ANMUM Giveaway!

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FUN FACT - The brain oversees everything that happens in the body, from subconscious functions like breathing to problem-solving. This ultimate supercomputer is active most of the time and throughout the course of the day, almost every part of  the brain is in use


The growing brain
As parents, we love watching our children grow taller and stronger. But have you ever wondered if their brains are developing equally well? Unlike physical growth, we can't fully observe brain development as easily. Naturally, we always want the best for our children, which is why it's important to understand how a child’s brain grows.

Most people don’t know that brain cells start developing by about the 28th day of pregnancy  and by the time a child is born,there are approximately 100 billion brain cells  hard at work! However, it’s not just the number of brain cells that matters, it’s the number of connections too.

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Brain connections
During early childhood, these connections grow exponentially. Did you know that each brain cell can form 2,500 connections with other brain cells when they are born? But by age 2 or 3, these connections would have multiplied by 6 times! 

“Connections, also known as synapses, are how brain cells communicate with each other. Early experience and the external environment stimulate the formation of brain cells connections. The more stimulating the external environment, the more connections will form,” explained Wendy Goh, Scientific and Nutrition Manager at Fonterra Brands Malaysia.“These connections between brain cells are important as they support learning, memory and other cognitive abilities. Stimulating activities and the right nutrition such as DHA and Gangliosides support brain development."

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What you should know about DHA and Gangliosides
DHA and Gangliosides (GA®) are found in the brain and play an important role in brain development. DHA helps tobuild brain cells  and Gangliosides help to support the formation of brain cell connections. Rapid brain growth during the first three years of life is important and could affect a child’s cognitive, social and emotional growth and development. 

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Increase GA with Anmum Essential
Though GA has a very important role to play in brain development, research showed that 1 out of 4 toddlers in Malaysia consumed 40% lower than the average daily GA® intake! Besides animal based food such as meat and eggs, GA intake can be increased by consuming milk and milk products.

Anmum™ Essential is formulated with DHA and Nuelipid for higher levels of GA®, and contains no added sugar*.  In addition, Anmum™ Essential also contains gut-friendly prebiotics FOS and Inulin, together with other important vitamins and minerals to support children’s overall growth. This is whyAnmum™ Essential is pleased to introduce Grow Amazing, a new educational initiative to help parents understand how their child’s brain grows and what supports its healthy development.


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ANMUM Essential Giveaway!
Have you always wanted to give Anmum Essential a try? Here's your chance! To thank my readers for supporting my blog and to share my love for Anmum, I'm giving away -Limited Edition Anmum Essential Kits to FIVE readers.

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How to participate
All you need to do is complete this slogan and leave it in the comments section below:

“I want my child to Grow Amazing because __________________” (in not more than 20 words).


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STAND A CHANCE TO WIN ANMUM ESSENTIAL FOR YOUR LOVED ONE :)

Terms & conditions.
1. The prize is a Limited Edition Anmum™ Essential kit. FIVE winners will be selected to win ONE kit each.
2.  The contest will close on 22 June 2017 at 12 noon.
3. The winners will be announced in a separate blog post.
4. Winners must email me at adline76@yahoo.co.uk with the following details:
a) Full name
b) Mobile number
c) Mailing address (to receive the package from Pos Laju/courier company during working hours)
d) Product selection (Step 3 for age 1-3, Step 4 for ages 3+)

5. The prizes will be sent within 15 working days from the date of the winners’ announcement.
6. Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained.

So what are you waiting for? Share your best slogan with me below! If you'd like to stay informed about how to support a child’s brain development with Grow Amazing and learn Amazing Facts about a child’s brain, visit the ANMUM website.


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Tuesday, June 6, 2017

How Autism Has Changed My Life

Tightrope

It's been 8 months since Arif's autism diagnosis and I can concur that raising a child with autism certainly comes with its own set of unique challenges. There are financial, emotional, psychological and even physical demands, but it can also be a rewarding and positive experience. 

Here are some of the ways that autism has changed my life... for the better.

1. More focused on my children
Autism has shifted my focus. These days, much of my time, energy and resources are dedicated to helping Arif cope with and slowly conquer his inability to speak and communicate, learning delays, sensory processing issues and behavioural challenges. But because I am dedicating so much attention to Arif, I also have to make sure that my eldest son, Amir, does not feel left out. Amir is an intelligent child, but he has a problem with keeping his focus. He needs constant help to keep motivated and to try his best at school. So I would say my life priority now, more than ever, is my children.

2.  Learning to say "no" and working less
As a freelancer, I don't have a steady income, and in the past there have been times when I felt I had to take on every project that came my way, so that I can save up for the future. After my son's diagnosis, and realising the costs that it would entail, I unconsciously went into a kind of "overdrive." I took on lots of projects back to back and sacrificed rest to get more done. I suppose I was worried that we wouldn't have enough money to pay for Arif's therapies or for future contingencies.

As a result, I exceeded and doubled my target savings for the year. But that came at a price. At the end of the year, I felt almost completely burned out. I was physically, mentally and emotionally drained. I realised then that this was no way to live. So, at the start of this year, I made a conscious decision to become more selective of what I choose to spend my time and energy on. As someone who is a bit of a workaholic and can't really sit still, I'm still learning to say "NO," not just to potential job offers, but to myself. I found this quote and it's what I live by these days.

"I don't say NO because I am so busy. I say NO because I don't want to be so busy."

3. Embracing minimalism
Autism is a life-long condition and therapies, such as occupational and speech therapies, as well as Early Intervention Programmes (EIP) are costly. Arif also needs special toys and equipment that we use for his home therapies and sensory integration activities. Since I have reduced the amount of work I can take on, I'm also earning less and much of what I earn monthly goes to our savings/ emergency fund and paying for therapies.

So you see, autism taught me the value of money. I am a collector... I love collecting, especially vintage pyrex and collectible tins. But since autism became a part of my life, suddenly these things don't hold the same appeal to me anymore. I find myself not wanting more collectibles and I've been reading up on embracing minimalism as a way of life. I started selling my collections online, on Facebook and via my Carousell store Rifimemeshop, to help raise funds for Arif's therapies. Online garage sales take time and energy, and it's often a slow process. Sometimes, it's hard to let go of things. But I always try to think of the bigger picture and why I'm doing it in the first place.

Will I be getting rid of all my collections? No, probably not. I'd still like to hold on to a few things that "spark joy" in me. A person like me needs a hobby :) 

Have you had a life-altering experience that has changed your life and the way you look at things? Let me know in the comments below. 

Welcome 2019: Time to Grow

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