Back to School

Getting Kids Ready for Back to School 

Are your kids ready for reading, writing, and arithmetic?

While you may think so, your kids may not!

Getting back into the groove isn’t always easy, so slowly introducing routine before the bell rings on the first day can help it go much smoother.

Here are 10 tips for creating peaceful transition to school so all of you can have a healthy and happy send-off.

1. Talk about feelings. Set some time aside to talk with each child separately about how they are feeling in regards to a new school year, the first day, their schedule, etc. Give them space to share freely and safely.
2. Create an agreed upon schedule. Hold a family meeting to discuss what time bed and wake up should be, when meals will be shared, and an overall general outline of everyone’s schedules (knowing that flexibility may be necessary at times). Ease gently into this schedule about a week or so prior to the first day.
3. Ask what their favorites are. Find out what they look forward to eating, what kind of books they love to read at night to relax, and how they love to spend down time after a busy day. These preferences can change quickly as kids age, so check-in to see what they enjoy right now that can be put into place for when school starts.
4. Boost immunity. A good multi-vitamin, vitamin D, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids are all supplements that can strengthen the immune system – helpful for exposure to new germs. Check out Keeping Kids Healthy During Cold and Flu Season for average dosage recommendations.
5. Cut down on sugar. Summer has so many fun treats (we’re looking at you ice cream and lemonade!) but as school grows closer it can be beneficial to start winding down the sugar highs. Opt for serving fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats and carbs for sustainable energy and focus.
6. Manage stress. Starting something new can be stressful for anyone, so implement stress management tools starting a week prior to and through the beginning of the year as much as possible. Bubble baths, cuddles, family walks, coloring, puzzles, and gentle hand and feet massages can all help ease anxiety.
7. Plan out meals. At least for the first week, have a good idea of what meals can be easily made and enjoyed. Consider what would be helpful to make ahead of time (like soups, casseroles, and salads) as well as what’s easy to grab for a quick snack (chopped vegetables and hummus, sliced fruit and nuts, and tuna and crackers).
8. Don’t over-schedule. Little (and big!) brains and bodies need downtime, especially at the start of school. Make sure there is time at night and on weekends for everyone to unwind and relax.
9. Have a family plan. It’s hard to talk about, but it’s reality in today’s world. Discuss as a family what should be done if your child sees or hears something suspicious at school or online.  Include talks about bullying and other misconducts as you see fit.
10. Do something fun. All work and no play is just no fun when school starts. Encourage moments of joy and laughter with an hour at the park, dinner at a favorite restaurant, family game or movie night, or other well-loved relaxing weekend activities.

While there is no guarantee the start of school will be perfect, there are definitely things such as these that you can do to prepare for a healthy start.

In addition, naturopathic medicine for kids and teens is available at our office for issues such as food sensitivities, mood, anxiety, energy, acne, pain, hormones, sleep, digestion, and other adolescent health challenges.

For further information, please call us at (303) 688-6698 or click here to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Graves to discuss further.

Whether acupuncture, natural medicine, and/or holistic and art counseling we have a variety of offerings for mental and physical health.

The CNMA office provides naturopathic care, acupuncture, testing, massage, and holistic counseling to those in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, Parker, Larkspur, Monument, Colorado Springs, and the greater Denver metro area.  For those outside of these areas, virtual appointments are available.