How come some children have lots of energy?

I met a grandfather this morning and he commented to me about his grandson who is always on the move, doing this and that throughout the day with just a short nap in the afternoon.

"As a man who have lived more than seventy years, I have seen and noticed that some children are slow not just in development but also in movement whereas there are some who seem to have a lot energy throughout the day just like my grandson," the proud grandfather observed.

Yes, some children, like my own sons and this man's grandson, have lots of energy and are always alert and active. I believe it has to do with two factors.

One is the nutrition of the mother during her pregnancy. Once a human egg has been fertilised, a foetus is formed. With formation of the first stage of the foetus, nutrition is required for its development as from then on the foetus develops at a fast rate, the various organs and parts of the body. If the mother does not consume sufficient nutrient for both of them, both may have to suffer from some form of malnutrition. I believe a lot of mothers suffer osteoporosis earlier than man because of pregnancy when the developing foetus may have to take calcium from the mother.

Another factor is the baby's nutrition. Some babies are weaned off milk too early. I have seen parents giving milo, a beverage drink their babies. Upon questioning such mothers, they would claim that their babies prefer the beverage drink to milk. Of course, as milo is sweetened with sugar. It is sweeter than milk. A wise mother would not allow the baby to make that choice and even prevent it as the babies are too small to know the existence of such a drink except through the introduction of it by the mothers or guardians. Mothers or parents, sometimes the problem lies with the fathers, should know that mother's milk is the most nutritious drink or food for babies, and to exchange the best with something else is certainly not advisable.

Without sufficient nutrition for growth and development of the organs, how can a child function at its best; how can there be sufficient energy for play which at that stage is a learning process. Without lots of play, there will be less opportunities to know the various texture on the many surfaces he/she feels or the development of strength in carrying things around, riding tricycles and pushing objects or the development of the brain as he/she thinks of improvising objects to become a vehicle, a pet or some other things within his/her imagination. Without sufficient nutrition, the body and the mind will not work as well and development can slow down while others are many steps ahead in growth, strength and intelligence.

Nutrition is important at every stage of our lives starting from the day we emerge from the egg as foetus. And even when we age we need even better nutrition for it is then that absorption of nutrients may be slower or not as efficient, unless we wish to slide fast downhill during our retirement. Anyway, we can retire from our job but never retire from life as much awaits us and that is when we need the strength and energy to enjoy life truly.