The survey by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong revealed yesterday that 79 per cent of children who should be eating unaided are still fed by parents or domestic helpers.
From April to May, 1,103 parents were asked to give details about their children aged between one and three years. Most children start eating by themselves between the ages of nine and 12 months, registered dietitian Ingrid Kan Yuen-man said. But a mere 21 per cent of respondent’s children ate on their own, according to the survey.
In 56 per cent of cases, family members fed the children. Domestic helpers fed the remaining 23 per cent. “Many parents still feed them or ask domestic helpers to feed them because they are worried about their children spilling food or getting their hands dirty,” Ms Kan said.
“It looks like Hong Kong children are lagging behind in their abilities to look after themselves,” paediatrics specialist Richard Chiu Wing said, adding that the result had come as a surprise. He said Hong Kong children were not slow in their physical or intellectual development and further research was needed to determine whether the dependent behaviour would hamper development, he said.
Meanwhile, parents are possibly taking their children to doctors too much, the survey reveals. In the past six months, 88.7 per cent of the infants covered by the survey had been taken to a doctor. Those who had seen doctors had done so 3.47 times on average. Institute project officer Shum Kwok-cheung said one extreme case involved a toddler being taken to a doctor 20 times in six months.
Dr Chiu said many parents relied on professionals too much instead of developing their own knowledge. He cited a few misconceptions. “Many parents believe a baby should sleep on their sides because sleeping on their backs might make them choke,” he said.
But the practice [of sleeping on their sides] was contrary to recommendations by US medical professionals. Video education programmes - believed to make children smarter - also deferred development.
An American study had found children who watched such shows were less intelligent, he said.
1 comment:
Spoil a child, mess with its maturity
Amy Nip
22 May 2009
The survey by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong revealed yesterday that 79 per cent of children who should be eating unaided are still fed by parents or domestic helpers.
From April to May, 1,103 parents were asked to give details about their children aged between one and three years. Most children start eating by themselves between the ages of nine and 12 months, registered dietitian Ingrid Kan Yuen-man said. But a mere 21 per cent of respondent’s children ate on their own, according to the survey.
In 56 per cent of cases, family members fed the children. Domestic helpers fed the remaining 23 per cent. “Many parents still feed them or ask domestic helpers to feed them because they are worried about their children spilling food or getting their hands dirty,” Ms Kan said.
“It looks like Hong Kong children are lagging behind in their abilities to look after themselves,” paediatrics specialist Richard Chiu Wing said, adding that the result had come as a surprise. He said Hong Kong children were not slow in their physical or intellectual development and further research was needed to determine whether the dependent behaviour would hamper development, he said.
Meanwhile, parents are possibly taking their children to doctors too much, the survey reveals. In the past six months, 88.7 per cent of the infants covered by the survey had been taken to a doctor. Those who had seen doctors had done so 3.47 times on average. Institute project officer Shum Kwok-cheung said one extreme case involved a toddler being taken to a doctor 20 times in six months.
Dr Chiu said many parents relied on professionals too much instead of developing their own knowledge. He cited a few misconceptions. “Many parents believe a baby should sleep on their sides because sleeping on their backs might make them choke,” he said.
But the practice [of sleeping on their sides] was contrary to recommendations by US medical professionals. Video education programmes - believed to make children smarter - also deferred development.
An American study had found children who watched such shows were less intelligent, he said.
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