Supporting your child in the lead up to PSLE goes beyond revision timetables and grades. It is equally important to help them build resilience, stay focused and feel emotionally strong during this high-pressure period.
To help you understand common concerns like poor concentration and test anxiety, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner Eric Tan with EU vehicle Shares a holistic approach – blending traditional wisdom with practical wellness tips to keep your baby energized, calm, and ready for this important milestone.
may result from overwork yin deficiency (dehydration) or qi Depletion (fatigue), which disrupts the body’s balance and reduces the quality of learning. In TCM, the focus is also linked to the spleen – an organ that produces qi (vital energy) and helps protect your immunity. If the spleen is weak, the child may feel lethargic, foggy, or sleepy after meals.
Health Tips:
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take regular breaks: Encourage to study for 45 to 50 minutes followed by 10 minutes rest.
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Nutritional Support: Make sure your child eats breakfast for sustained energy throughout the day. Provide nutritious options such as Si Shen (four-herb) soup to help qi. Limit “damp” foods – such as greasy snacks, sweets and icy drinks – which can interfere with spleen function and cause energy loss. Include eggs, fish, green leafy vegetables and carrots for eye health.
Stress, staying up late at night and irregular eating weakens the body. wei qi (defensive energy). By whom is this “shield” manufactured? using spleen nutrients and natural qi Collected through the lungs. When wei qi If it is less, children become vulnerable to cold, sore throat and cough.
Health Tips:
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Natural Immunity Boosters Include: Along with plenty of hydration, include manuka honey, goji berries or vitamin C-rich fruits in their diet.
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Allow Adequate Rest: If your child falls ill, prioritize sleep and recovery over studies or sports.
Avoid “hot” (inflammatory) or foods that may cause a sore throat or fever. Focus on easily digestible, nutrient-rich foods.
Health Tips:
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Focus their attention: To keep energy levels stable, give your child a mental boost with chicken essence and replace sugary snacks with goji berries or nuts like almonds and walnuts.
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eat in moderation: Limit sugary beverages and stay away from unfamiliar tonics right before the big day. If you are introducing new supplements, do so at the beginning of the period and consult a professional first.
Swap sugary snacks for goji berries and add herbs to your child’s diet to help boost their immunity.
Photo: Eu Yan Song
Strength-building should be a gradual process rather than a last-minute change. Introduce the following ingredients into your child’s diet slowly and ahead of time before the exam.
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Chinese yam (Shan Yao): great for qi Shortage; Can be added to soup or meatballs.
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Goji berries: Eat it as breakfast for eye health.
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Black sesame seeds or almonds: Consume in paste form. These support memory and healthy digestion.
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Cordyceps: For older children who get sick easily, a small amount can help strengthen immunity.
Using screens and reading for long periods of time puts pressure on the eye muscles, which can lead to tension headaches. In TCM, the eyes reflect the liver (yin) Health. stress and late night fatigue yinDue to which the eyes become dry and irritated.
Health Tips:
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Relax the eyes and surrounding muscles: Every 20 minutes, look into the distance – preferably outside the window or at least 6 meters away for at least 20 seconds before returning to studying.
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Massage your eyes:
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Press the inner corners of the eyebrows with your thumbs (kuan zhu acupoint)
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Press the bridge of the nose with the index finger and thumb (jing ming acupoint)
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Press the index fingers on the cheeks directly below the pupils. (C Bai acupoint)
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Place your thumbs on your temples and use the knuckles of your index fingers to gently trace the upper and lower ridges of the eye sockets.
A simple eye massage can help reduce fatigue caused by prolonged screen use and reading.
Illustration: Eu Yan Sang
best qi Booster is an active lifestyle. Your child should exercise regularly to stay healthy qi If it stabilizes and regenerates their body.
Health Tips:
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Keep the body in balance: Encourage a healthy balance of quiet study and active physical activities. Relaxing exercises such as brisk walking while swinging your arms can help “open” the liver meridian, which promotes relaxation. Make sure they get enough rest.
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give them herbal tea: For children who naturally feel weak, red dates and codonopsis tea can provide a mild energy boost. Always make sure they stay well hydrated to aid their physical activity and recovery.
In TCM, the heart represents the brain. When a child becomes nervous, he may experience a temporary decrease in heart rate qiWhich can lead to feeling “lost” or experiencing mental darkness. Excess stress can also cause this qi Congestion along the liver meridian, often feels like “butterflies in the stomach.”
Health Tips:
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Create a lasting routine: Make sure your child is well prepared in advance to avoid last-minute cramming, which often leads to memory loss. A rested body is more effective at learning, so make consistent, early bedtimes a priority to help them feel confident and mentally sharp.
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Practice active relaxation: Teach your child to take slow, deep breaths whenever he or she feels stressed. Make sure the hour before bed is screen-free and relaxing. You can support them even with a simple Kai Tian Men Massage: Gently massage the hairline from between the eyebrows to the middle of the forehead for one to two minutes to help calm their mind.
Keep things as simple as possible to reduce performance pressure.
Health Tips:
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Eat light food: A warm, balanced breakfast is best. Don’t let them eat too much.
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stay focused: If they feel nervous, encourage deep breathing or reading a non-school book to distract the mind. Remind them that their hard work has prepared them well.
To learn more about TCM Wellness, visit any Yu Yan Sang store or browse www.euyansang.com.sg For more TCM wellness tips and articles.
