Abbott hosted its Fast Learners Field Day to equip parents with practical insights into nutrition, child development, and the importance of building strong foundations for learning. The event brought families together through interactive activities, educational experiences, and an expert-led forum that explored how proper nutrition supports children during their formative years.
The education-based forum highlighted how appropriate nutritional support helps children remain active and engaged, allowing them to make the most of everyday learning opportunities. Recognizing that every child’s developmental journey is unique, experts emphasized that supporting a child’s ability to learn involves more than cognitive development alone. Gut health also plays an important role through the connection between the gut and the brain.
“A healthy tummy does more than support digestion,” said Dr. Gamaliel Tayao, head of medical affairs for Abbott’s nutrition business in the Philippines. “It also sends positive signals to the brain that can support mood, behavior, immunity and even learning. This is why Abbott pioneered research on special prebiotics called Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) in milk formulas to help support a healthy gut, strengthen immunity and nurture the gut-brain connection.”
Abbott’s research has found that children who consumed formula containing five Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) experienced 40% fewer healthcare visits and an average of 3.4 fewer sick days than children who did not receive HMO-enriched formula. The research also found differences in language and social development. Children who received five-HMO formula showed 38% more imitation of words as they began speaking and 24% more understanding of everyday phrases than children who did not receive the formula. These early communication behaviors are considered important foundations for learning.
Supporting Every Child’s Unique Learning Journey
At Abbott’s Fast Learners Field Day, parents and children explored the Fast Learner Trails, a series of interactive activity stations designed to demonstrate the building blocks that help children learn, grow, and thrive. Each station focused on a different aspect of child development, including cognitive skills, digestive comfort, and nutritional support for immune health.
At the first station, children participated in creative challenges that encouraged problem-solving, imagination, and confidence. The activity reinforced the importance of giving young children opportunities to explore, discover, and learn through play. Powered by Similac GainSchool, the station highlighted how nutrition with added gangliosides supports faster brain connections, helping children stay ready to learn every day.2
The second station demonstrated how a healthy tummy helps children remain comfortable, engaged, and focused, allowing them to benefit from everyday learning experiences. Powered by Similac TummiCare HW, the station introduced families to the formula’s unique Triple Comfort Blend. The blend includes partially hydrolyzed whey protein, which helps reduce allergy risk and relieves tummy troubles.3,4
At the third station, parents learned how a child’s nutritional needs can also be influenced by the circumstances of their birth. Children born via C-section may have fewer beneficial gut bacteria because they miss exposure to microbes typically acquired during normal delivery. This difference can affect early immune development and may call for more targeted nutritional support.5
For mothers of children born via C-section, Similac Essencia+ offers immunity-supporting nutrients, including Abbott’s highest levels of five HMOs, BB-12 probiotics, and nucleotides. These ingredients help promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut, supporting immune health during a critical stage of development.6,7,8
“Understanding how nutrition supports gut health and immunity can help parents give their children the foundation they need to participate fully in the experiences that shape their cognitive development,” said Dr. Tayao. “Learning happens every day, whether children are solving problems, exploring their surroundings or interacting with others. To make the most of these opportunities, children need strong nutritional support to help nurture both their physical and cognitive development.”
The activities at the Fast Learners Field Day emphasized the relationship between nutrition, gut health, immunity, and children’s everyday learning experiences. Through the interactive stations, families explored how different aspects of development contribute to a child’s ability to participate in activities that encourage discovery, communication, and cognitive growth.
Backed by Science, Trusted by Families
Parents play a vital role in nurturing their children’s cognitive development by encouraging curiosity, supporting their interests, and creating opportunities for exploration and discovery. When supported by proper nutrition, these everyday experiences help children build the confidence and resilience needed to become fast learners.
Abbott draws on more than 100 years of pediatric nutrition expertise and decades of research on Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) to support families with science-based nutritional solutions. Through its range of Similac products, the company provides formulas designed to address children’s unique nutritional needs at every stage of development.
The Fast Learners Field Day brought together these nutritional insights and practical learning activities to help parents better understand the factors that support children’s development. The event highlighted the importance of considering cognitive development alongside gut health and immunity, while recognizing the role of everyday experiences in helping children learn and grow.
Parents seeking more information about how nutrition can support a child’s journey toward becoming a confident, fast learner can visit similac.com.ph.
