Halfway through the semester, many kids are gearing up for final exams. When they’re under pressure, on edge, or even having a full emotional meltdown, parents often freeze—unsure whether to comfort them immediately or analyze the problem together.

So, what can parents really do? Today, let’s hear from Chen Xingjia, lead instructor of the "40 Lessons on Parenting Teenagers" course on the Dedao app. Drawing on years of frontline experience, Chen offers a practical two-step approach he calls "Emergency Rescue and Slow Cultivation." It covers both an instant emotional first-aid kit and long-term solutions for repair.

Here’s what he says.

01 A Child’s Collapse: The Blue Screen of the Soul

Imagine this scene—or maybe it’s already played out in your home:

It’s 11 PM. All the lights in the house are off except the one over your child’s desk. He’s staring blankly at a half‑finished worksheet, not having moved in ages. You bring him a glass of milk and whisper, "Tired? Take a break?"

Without looking up, he mutters hoarsely, "Leave me alone."

The air freezes. A moment later, he buries his face in his arms, his shoulders start shaking, and in a barely audible, desperate voice, he whispers, "I can’t do this anymore." Then he breaks down completely, sobbing uncontrollably.

When that sentence comes out of your child’s mouth, it hits like a depth charge—inside you, inside your whole family. In that moment, you might feel heartache, helplessness, maybe even anger or disappointment. Then comes the avalanche: calls from teachers, rankings in the parent group, dropping grades—all flooding back at once.

Facing a child standing on the edge of a cliff, what can we actually do?

Many parents think, "I need to snap him out of it, analyze what went wrong." But today, I want you to see it differently: A child’s sudden breakdown isn’t a threat—it’s a distress signal. It’s not weakness; it’s the mind’s overload protection.

Think of a computer. If its CPU runs too hot for too long and the cooling system can’t keep up, what happens? It crashes—the blue screen of death. That’s the computer’s extreme way of protecting itself, saying, "I can’t handle this anymore. I need to stop!"

Similarly, a child’s breakdown is a blue screen of the soul. It’s a desperate cry for help. At that moment, what they need most isn’t a command to reboot, but your gentle hands to help them "shut down and cool off."

Have you ever stopped to look at the salt shaker in your kitchen? Maybe it’s just plain table salt, or maybe it’s labeled with big letters that scream "iodized." Most of us grab the salt without a second thought, but that tiny pinch you sprinkle on your food every day plays a surprisingly big role in your brain development and overall health.

Yesterday was National Iodine Deficiency Prevention Day in China, and it got me thinking about how often we overlook this humble mineral. Yin Ye, the host of a popular health course on the De Dao app, recently broke down why iodine matters so much and how to get it right. Let’s dive in.

The Real Deal on Iodine

Iodine might be needed in microscopic amounts, but don’t let that fool you—it’s a heavyweight when it comes to your body. It’s the essential building block for thyroid hormones, which are basically the managers of your metabolism. They decide whether you feel energetic or sluggish, and they’re absolutely crucial for brain and nervous system development, especially in fetuses and infants.

When iodine runs low, your body starts to freak out. The most visible sign is a swollen thyroid gland—what used to be called a "goiter." Your thyroid works overtime to catch whatever iodine it can from your blood. But the really scary part is what happens inside your brain. During pregnancy and the first three years of life, the brain is building its architecture at warp speed. If there isn’t enough thyroid hormone around, that construction job suffers—sometimes permanently. Kids born in areas with severe iodine deficiency show average IQ scores 10 to 15 points lower than healthy kids. That’s not just a number; it’s a life trajectory altered. For adults, long-term deficiency brings fatigue, sluggishness, feeling cold all the time—basically, your engine runs on low.

But Wait, Aren’t We Eating Better Now?

You might think, "Hey, I live near the coast and eat seafood sometimes. I’m fine." That’s where most people get it wrong. The earth itself is naturally poor in iodine—decades of glacial runoff have washed it out of soil and water. So, even if you’re having the occasional fish or seaweed, studies show that seafood contributes only about 2% to 5% of the iodine most Chinese people actually need. Most of us aren’t munching on kelp every day. If you skip iodized salt, over 97% of the population would fall below the recommended iodine intake. That’s a huge risk.

The bottom line? Unless you live in a region with naturally high iodine in the water—and those are rare and clearly mapped—using iodized salt is the simplest, cheapest, and most effective way to stay on track.

How to Buy, Store, and Use Your Salt Wisely

Here’s the practical part. When you’re at the grocery store, look for "iodized salt" on the label. It’s usually table salt with potassium iodide added. But don’t just grab any bag. Once you bring it home, store it in a tightly sealed container away from light, heat, and moisture. Iodine is volatile—it disappears over time if exposed to air and light. A dark, cool pantry is perfect.

Also, timing matters. If you add salt too early while cooking, especially when boiling or frying, the iodine can break down and evaporate. For maximum benefit, sprinkle iodized salt on your food right before serving or after cooking. It’s a small habit shift that makes a real difference.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers need extra attention—their iodine requirements are higher because they’re supporting a developing baby. Talk to your doctor about whether a supplement is needed on top of iodized salt, but salt itself is a solid foundation.

Final Thought

We tend to think of salt as just a seasoning, but it’s really a vehicle for something essential. Iodized salt is one of those public health wins that quietly prevents thousands of cases of brain damage every year. So next time you reach for that salt shaker, give it a second look. It might be doing more for your health than you ever imagined.