Back to school - Supporting your anxious child

Starting school for the first time or going back after the holidays can be a stressful time for children. Here are some ways to help support your little ones during this time of change.

Breakfast as a great start to the day

Your child will feel less anxious if their blood sugar is stable, a great way to do this is to have protein for breakfast for example eggs with toast or a slow release carbohydrate like oats. If your anxious child eats a commercial breakfast cereal, concentration will be limited and their blood sugar will spike causing feelings of anxiety to escalate.

Nutritious Lunchbox 

The lunchbox is another great way to get nutrients in for the day to help your child stay calm and relaxed so they can concentrate on learning. Eg: good quality protein in a wrap with some veggies is great. My kids love the bento lunchboxes and they choose what to add each morning. It’s super easy and often consists of dinner leftovers. Stay away from packaged, processed foods with additives. 

A little love note inside the lunchbox is a nice surprise and lets them know you are thinking of them during the day.

Flower essences

Children respond really well to flower essences they are such a beautiful way to work energetically with their little bodies. Feel free to contact me for a custom blend or Rescue Remedy works quite well - seven drops under the tongue or in a glass of water will help ease those back to school nerves. Good for mums and dads too on the first day.

Anchor

An anchor is a great way to help your child become more mindful, a certain smell or ritual they do every morning to feel calm and grounded. Some examples of this include having an essential oil spray to spritz around them before they leave or a roll-on they can smell to help calm the nerves. Oils such as chamomile and lavender are beautiful or a little ritual before going to school for the day is also nice something you can do with your child like quiet time in nature. 

Self-massage for anxiety

If you child is feeling anxious, have them massage their solar plexus, it is located just below the breastbone, with their fingers from one hand they can use gentle pressure to make 10 small anti clockwise circles over the area and then hold still focusing on their breathing being slow and controlled. This is a great tool they can do this any time they are feeling stressed and it helps them have a sense of control over the situation and they can stay calm and focused.

Tummy pains

Often young children complain of tummy pains when they first go back to school and this can be a way of expressing anxiety. Chamomile tea is lovely and a nice tummy massage or warm bath. If the tummy pains persist seeing a Naturopath can be helpful, there could be other contributing factors such as food intolerances or constipation at play.

Before and after school

Getting your kids in nature before and after school is fantastic for calming and grounding. Have them take off their shoes and run around on the grass or sit under a tree in the shade. 

Routine

Anxious children thrive on routine, if they know what is going to happen for the day they feel safe. Set up a routine for getting ready in the morning so your household is not feeling rushed.

Sleep 

A good night sleep is essential for children to grow and learn. Ensure their room feels comfy and not too hot or cold, have a wind down routine at the end of the day so their little bodies are nice and relaxed when they hop into bed. Chamomile tea after dinner is nice or a warm bath. Essential oils in a diffuser such as Lavender and Chamomile are calming. No screen time or TV for at least 2 hours before bed. 

Vitamins and minerals

Zinc, Vitamin D, specific B vitamins and Magnesium are all important for children and supporting anxiety, these can be obtained through a good whole food diet or though supplementation if needed.

Herbs 

There are some wonderful gentle herbs I use for children to help support the nervous system. 

Chamomile is a hug in a bottle and great for restlessness and nervous irritability 

Skullcap for restlessness and as a nervous system tonic 

Withania for the stressed underweight child

Zizyphus for calming and as a tonic for the nervous system

Passionflower for anxiety and insomnia

Lavender to assist with sleep