By Stephanie Young MAEd
As a preschool owner and director of 20 years I have noticed a big change in the attention span and behavior of my students over the last 10 or so years. More recently, I have observed an increased number of children with speech delays. With the increase in consumption of processed
foods, sugary snacks, and sweetened beverages, concerns have grown about the potential effects of sugar on children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. We all need to understand the amount of sugar our children are consuming and where it comes from; the effects of
excessive sugar on health and development- especially brain development; and what we can do about reducing sugar in our children’s diets.
Sugar is added to many of the items we eat and is included in almost all processed foods. Most of my students have lunches full of packages – Uncrustables, chips, crackers, cookies, etc. There are lots of calories in the lunchbox but very little nutrition. And if we are not paying close
attention, they will eat the cookies first. One child in my program gets great food – usually leftovers from dinner- but often refuses to eat it if she sees any junk in her lunchbox. She comes in almost every day with a huge donut, so she’s sugared up from the start.
The recommended daily intake of sugar for children ages 4-6 years is 19g per day. Younger children should consume even less. One gram of sugar equals ¼ tsp. so they can eat 4 ¾ tsp per day. The typical lunch I see at children my preschool eating looks something like this:
Uncrustable 7g
Gogurt 23g
Chips 1-2g
Cookies (Oreos) in a 6 pack easy grab package – 27g
Fruit cup – 22g (19 added)
Total sugars = 80g (20 tsp)
This is 4 times the total DAILY recommended amount in one meal. And many children had a sugary breakfast (a Dunkin Glazed and Frosted Donut with 15g and a cup of milk with 12g =27g of sugar at breakfast). These children are already addicted to sugar. They crave it constantly.
They tell me they are hungry, but often refuse to eat the healthy food they are offered. Research is coming out on the effect of sugar on brain development. I found some important research that needs to be shared with parents everywhere. There is an epidemic coming to our children if we do not change their eating habits. The total amount of sugar they
consume is at least five times what is should be. The increased calories from sugar also prevents them from eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and protein. Protein is vital for healthy development, including brain development. The brain needs protein to focus and function
properly. Our kids are not getting the proper nutrients with the current diet they are eating, and many are likely to have fatty liver disease and pre diabetes by the time they are teens.
One of the primary concerns with excessive sugar intake is that it often replaces nutrient-dense foods in a child’s diet. Nutrients such as iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins are essential for healthy brain function and language development. If a child’s diet is predominantly made up of sugary snacks and beverages, they are not be getting the necessary nutrients to support proper neurological and speech development and are most likely nutrient deficient. A lack of essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron can impair
physical growth, brain development, and immune function
Less attention has been paid to how a high-sugar diet may affect speech development in young children. I have noticed a large increase in children with speech delays in my preschool over the last several years. While the direct link between sugar and speech development is still under investigation, emerging research suggests that excessive sugar intake may indirectly influence speech and language skills through its effects on overall brain function, behavior, and physical health. The brain’s growth during early childhood is rapid, and its proper development relies heavily on good nutrition. Diets high in sugar can lead to cognitive deficits by impairing
development of brain regions critical to language processing and learning. High sugar consumption, especially from refined sugars and sugary drinks, can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain. Studies suggest that this may negatively affect neural circuits involved in memory, learning, and attention-processes that are essential for developing speech
and language skills. A child with reduced attention or impaired memory function may struggle to learn new words, understand language nuances, or properly develop conversational skills. What can we do? Our society as a whole needs to understand the sugar crisis occurring in our food sources. We as educators can start by educating our children and their families. Have nutrition talks with the children at lunch. Hold parent meetings and help parents understand this crisis. Give them tools and knowledge to move forward with. Teach them the guidelines that nutritionists recommend for healthy eating such as: to opt for Whole Foods: Focus on whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. These provide the nutrients necessary for brain development, supporting speech and language skills.
o Limit Sugary Drinks: Sugary beverages, such as sodas, juices, and flavored milk, are some of the largest sources of added sugar in children’s diets. Encourage water, milk, or unsweetened beverages as alternatives.
o Incorporate Healthy Fats: Omega-3 fatty acids, are essential for brain
development and may support speech and language growth. They can be found in foods like fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, and avocado,
o Promote Nutrient-Dense Snacks: Instead of sugary snacks, offer options like yogurt (adult yogurt that has low added sugar), nuts, fruits, and vegetables. These snacks provide lasting energy and help to ensure that children get the nutrients they need for overall growth and development.
It is clear that sugar can have an indirect negative impact on brain health, behavior, and immune function. Reducing sugar in children’s diets and promoting balanced, nutrient rich nutrition can mitigate these risks and support healthier growth and development. Children’s overall development, including speech and language skills as well as behavior and immune system development can improve with changes in nutrition. Educators and parents can work together to improve our children’s diets through education and healthy choices, thereby improving their ability to develop to their greatest potential.
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