With the school year quickly approaching, it’s our priority to help prepare our kids to thrive all school year. So often we see students getting back to school and getting that fall cold right away. Going from the sunny summer days to meeting the mental and physical demands of sitting in a classroom all day can take a toll on our immune system. Looking for ways to stay healthy during school? Check out these 5 tips to having a healthy school year:
Sleep Routine
While it may be fun to have the freedom of staying up late and then sleeping in all summer, it’s very important to get back into a stable sleep schedule. When we rest we restore, and the body is really able to heal. To combat the everyday stresses that come with school (emotional stress, pathogens, physical stress) the body needs time to rest. Here’s my favorite ways to ensure restful sleep:
Go to sleep at the same time every night
Sleep in a cool, dark, quiet room
No electronics at least 1 hour before bed
2. Make time for movement
Especially coming off of a busy summer, it can be a really hard transition for the kiddos to go from being outdoors and active all the time to sitting inside at a desk. That channeled energy needs to be expressed frequently to keep their nervous system in balance. Try scheduling time in the evenings or on weekends for some kind of physical activity: take a walk, play in the yard or at the park, or even stream a dance or yoga class in your living room.
It is also very beneficial to their physical health to be getting adjusted by a chiropractor regularly. It is very demanding to sit at school all day and can lead to poor posture and various physical pains. Getting adjusted regularly keeps their body in alignment and their nervous systems regulated. A more balanced nervous system leads to better behavior and more resilient immune systems!
3. Fueling Foods
Maintaining a healthy diet makes all the difference for everyone, especially our littles ones. The fuel we put in is a direct indicator of the energy output we’ll get back. So if they’re not eating great, they’re probably not feeling or acting great. In general we recommend avoiding the following: gluten, corn, soy, dairy, and refined sugar. Even if you have picky eaters, remember even the simplest of changes can make all the difference.
Looking for inspiration on how to get started on creating healthy eating habits for your kids? Check out this two part blog series we created full of Kid Friendly healthy recipes:
4. Supplement Support
At the end of the day, there is a bigger risk of getting sick when exposed to several other kids on a daily basis. Which is why supporting your kids’ immune systems with nutritional supplements can be a game changer. Work with one of our doctors to find a supplement protocol that’s right for your children. A few of my favorite supplements for kid’s general immune health include:
Immune R-mor
Immune harmony essential oil (Try diffusing in their rooms)
Fish oil (For kids, I like Nordic Omega-3 Fishies)
Probiotic (I like Megaspore Biotic)
Remember, when it comes to nutritional supplementation, QUALITY MATTERS! Especially for young, developing minds you want to be using high quality supplements. Regular over-the-counter supplements are typically full of added sugars, artificial dyes and unnecessary preservatives.
5. Support their Stress
At any age, school can be stressful. New environments, teachers and peers can all cause emotional stress for students. Allowing safe outlets for them to express and manage their emotions will keep that stress from impacting their physical health and depressing their immune systems. Whether it’s physical activity, drawing, talking it out, journaling, or meditation- it’s so helpful to their overall well being to be able to release that emotional stress.
For the stresses that they can’t quite pinpoint or don’t know how to express, I love Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET). All of our doctors are certified in NET, which is a technique that allows us to tap into the subconscious brain and remove the physiologic response that the stressor is having on their body. To see how it works, check out this NET demonstration with Dr. Abby.
I hope this article provides you with some helpful tools and ideas to help you and/or your kids to thrive this school year! For more information on managing health for yourself or your family amidst the new school year, be sure to attend the next Dinner with the Doctors. As always, we are here to support you on your health journey!
Dr. Naomi Smith, DC