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When exam season’s in full swing, junior’s brain will need all the help it can get to pass it with flying colours.

So, you can help boost their concentration by making sure they take a break from cramming to get in some exercise. Exercising increases the body’s production of endorphins, the hormone responsible for improving one’s mood.

At night, make sure your child gets some quality shuteye — about 7 to 8 hours of it — so that they’ll remain alert and attentive during the exams.

Junior’s diet is another important aspect of good exam prep. A well-balanced diet of vegetables, meat, fish and fruit won’t just boost your child’s brain functions, it’ll ward off any infection by powering up their immunity!

Then, there are supplements and other products that’ll give their body the additional oomph it needs to boost memory. We’ve rounded several products that’ll help your kiddo do just that!

Do remember to consult your family physician before taking any supplements as well as follow the recommended dosage. Scroll through the photo gallery for more information…

Main photo: iStock

BRAND’S Essence of Chicken with American Ginseng

PRICE $22.50/pack of six
FROM Redmart
WHAT Taking essence of chicken is known to boost one’s alertness and attentiveness. Brand’s boasts that its Essence of Chicken supplements are proven to help enhance alertness and that it’s backed by more than 30 scientific research papers. Unlike the original, the American Ginseng extracts in this version enhances the memory and aids recovery from stress. The “cooling” qualities of the American Ginseng is balanced by the “warm” properties of liquorice, which makes this a neutralised Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) product.
PARENTS SAY Daisy Ong notes that her son, who takes a bottle before the exams, has told her that it has helped improve his concentration and immunity.

Blackmores Odourless Fish Oil 1000

PRICE $48.75/bottle (400 capsules)
FROM Redmart
WHAT The DHA in Omega-3 fatty acids — found mainly in “fatty” fish like salmon and tuna — is known to enhance the memory as well as brain function. A diet featuring this vital fish oil also reduces one’s risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia. These pills also help to decrease the fat levels in your blood while maintaining heart, eye and brain health.
PARENTS SAY Joanna Tan, whose daughter is taking the PSLE this year, likes that the sweet vanilla lemony taste of these capsules ― there’s no fishy aftertaste unlike others her daughter tried.

Doctor’s Best Extra Strength Ginkgo

PRICE $10.74/bottle (120 Capsules)
FROM iHerb
WHAT Taking ginkgo biloba extract enhances blood flow to the brain as it reduces the accumulation of fatty tissue in the brain to boost brain power and memory. These capsules are gluten-free and also suitable for vegans.
PARENTS SAY Karen Lim notes that her son, Kieran, 11, is better able to stay alert and focus on his revision for longer stretches of time after taking these capsules. He also seems to have improved his ability to retain what he studies.

Power Up! Essence of Chicken Combo

PRICE $52.40/combo of Appetite, Concentration and Vision
FROM Eu Yan Sang
WHAT The three different varieties of chicken essence in this set promtoes different body functions. Each bottle also holds a smaller amount of essence — 42g as opposed to the standard serving of 70g. Featuring TCM herbal extracts like dangshen, huaishan and fuling, Power Up! Appetite improves your child’s digestion. Ingredients like wolfberries and beiqi and baihe herbs in Power up! Vision enhances junior’s sight, while the pure chicken essence in Power Up! Concentration improves mental alertness. This range, which is free from artificial colouring and preservatives, is made from 100 per cent natural ingredients. The cute cartoon characters on these bottles may just get your kiddo to have a taste of the broth.
PARENTS SAY Amy Lim says her son’s span of attention in class improved after he started taking Power Up! Vision. Katrina Tan adds that not only her daughter’s digestion and immunity improved after taking Power Up! Appetite, she also had better concentration. She adds that she likes that the tonic contains natural ingredients that are free from preservatives, colouring and salt or sugar. 

MegRhythm Steam Eye Mask (Unscented)

PRICE $6.50/pack of five
FROM Watsons
WHAT Spending hours poring over textbooks and doing assessment books can cause junior to suffer eye strain. The self-warming 40 deg C eye mask refreshes tired eyes in just 10 minutes. It also soothes and hydrates the skin around the eyes.
PARENTS SAY Easy to use, the disposable mask is soft and smooth. This is a value-for-money buy as it comes in a box of five. Although it comes in four scents, pick lavender as it’ll help junior to relax.

Smiley Stress Balls

PRICE $9.40/ball
FROM Lazada
WHAT Squeezing and releasing these stress balls can heighten your child’s attentiveness and alertness as it relieves stress and tension from his arms. Some studies have show that stress toys function much like a fidget item — something a person plays with while their mind is busy absorbing information.
PARENTS SAY Vivian Chong says her son, who’s taking the PSLE, practises deep-breathing techniques after wrapping up his revision at night to help him cope with exam anxiety. Chong explains that he’ll sit at his desk, shut his eyes and take a few deep breaths while squeezing the stress balls. At the same time, he visualises being cool, calm and confident during the exam.