Back to School: Supporting Your Child's Learning and Natural Focus
Back to School Wellness Tips for Learning Success
It is, of course, very natural to feel nervous about the new school year. Not just as a parent! Kids get nervous too. Very natural to feel relief with a return to a more regular schedule as well as anxious about the earlier waking times if you or your kiddo like to sleep in. We also might feel some dread about the challenges that are so common with the return to the classroom.
How do I delay/prevent the seasonal crud? What if the mornings never line up like ducks in a row? What if math is harder this year? Who will I sit with at lunch? (Sound familiar?)
Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading into high school, this season brings unique opportunities to set them up for success & I have some good news for you. There are simple, natural ways to support their learning, focus, and overall well-being that don't require complicated routines or elaborate decision trees to navigate the way to natural focus and success for kids.
Your Calm Sets the Tone
Here's something every parent needs to remember: your calm leads the way. Kids are amazing mood-readers, and they look to us for cues on how to handle life's curveballs. When we stay grounded and prepared, they feel more secure too. What are your natural focus tools? (Need some more ideas? read on!) I try to start the day with journaling, I do it while I’m pooping first thing in the morning. And if I’m done with the BM but still have a few more thoughts or dreams to scribble out? So be it.
Working even this little self care routine in before the cat starts meowing and kids start asking me where things are really helps me prepare for the day. It’s like a little pep rally with myself. I try to empty my worries and write down a goal or reminder or two. Then brush teeth, focus and go.
Having the rhythms in place and tools familiar enough to know what to reach for, can really make the difference in your day and your kid’s day too.
The secret isn't having all the answers—it's having the right tools ready when you need them most.
Building Your Back-to-School Survival Kit
Think of this as an invitation to develop your family's wellness toolkit. You're looking for ways to support natural focus and better paying attention. You’re worried about what variations on the tummy bug or sore throat are coming around. I want you to have the tools on hand, to meet any challenge, before you need them. This includes Rescue Remedy for the first day or big test jitters, as well as Throat Coat Tea and Elderberry Syrup for the inevitable sniffles. A little preparation now saves you from scrambling later when someone isn't feeling their best or when stress levels run high.
Rescue Remedy is amazing for kids, pets and grown ups too.
Keep Rescue Remedy Close By
Stash this flower essence remedy in your car, kitchen, and maybe even your child's backpack. Dr. Bach created this gentle remedy in the 1930s. He became disillusioned with the “medicines of the day” (sound familiar?) and he found healing in the garden instead. Flower essences are a gentle, amazing healing remedy to utilize and the 5 flower blend that he came up with still works wonders for both kids and adults today. I’ve seen folks drop back into their body, stop shaking and start speaking clearly after a car accident with just a few drops of this remedy. Talk about some natural focus. These remedies, and you know I love the Lotus Wei as well, are made of flowers sunshine and water. They are magical and gentle and super powerful. The best part? Zero side effects and no risk of dependency. It's perfect for those presentation day trepidations or whip it out for unexpected meltdowns.
Master Simple Breathing Techniques
No fancy equipment needed here! Square breathing is your go-to: slow exhale for a count of 4, hold for 4, slow inhale for 4, hold, repeat. You can slow it down and go for a longer square of exhale and hold and inhale. Or slow the exhale, making more of a trapezoid breath instead of a square. The nervous system loves this cue to relax, talk about a natural focus tool. The breath is our driver, learning how to harness the power of breath and tune into ourselves this way can be immensely powerful. This simple square breathing technique actually lowers blood pressure and signals safety to your nervous system. Practice it regularly when everyone's calm so you can access it during chaotic moments. I’ve used square breathing to help calm someone in the ER as well as on the playground after a tumble.
Stock Up on Herbal Allies
As classrooms fill up again, exposure to seasonal bugs naturally increases. Trading all the sunshine and fresh air of summer for jammed inside classrooms makes for a potential mosh pit of snot. I’ll have more to say next blog post but please keep in mind that we are on the verge of “sugar season” (Oct. 31 through Jan.1) and if there’s anything that will for sure crash your immune system and run you down, it’s too much candy, sugar, booze etc. Why do we celebrate holidays with things that make us more at risk of getting sick? I don’t get it.
It’s okay, we’ve got a plan.
Instead of waiting until someone feels under the weather, build your home pharmacy now with gentle, effective remedies.
TEAS:
Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat and Cold Care Tea are excellent staples to have in the tea cupboard. These both contain herbal medicines that are soothing whether you're battling the first tickle in your throat or just want a comforting warm drink.
TINCTURES:
WishGarden tinctures offer wonderful support too, with gentle kids' formulations that work great for adults. Their Kick It Couch and Deep Lung formulas help clear respiratory congestion before minor symptoms settle deeper.
Other favorites to keep on hand include:
Wise Woman Herbals Throat Mist
Zinc elderberry lozenges
Elderberry syrup (I like GAIA brand though homemade is better!)
Boiron Chestal Cough Remedy
Having these ready means you can support your family's health proactively, without emergency pharmacy runs.
(include link to Fullscript)
The Foundations: Movement, Food, and Understanding How Your Child Learns
Movement Matters More Than You Think
Here's a reality check: children are not meant to sit still all day! Yet that's exactly what we ask them to do in most classrooms. Exercise isn't just good for physical health—it's essential for brain function and natural focus. I’ve reminded parents of this numerous times in the past few weeks already! It is perfectly healthy and normal that your kid has energy and is looking for things to do. Five years olds are supposed to be running around! Really I think kids (of all ages) need more time to move around and shake things off. Imagine making time for this at regular intervals throughout the day? I think we’d all feel a lot better.
Start the day with movement, and teach your kids that when feelings get overwhelming, they can actually wiggle and shake them out to change their mental state.
Research shows that lessons learned through play take far fewer repetitions to master. How can we incorporate play into our day? Consider this your prescription for bringing some silly into your home this school year! Homework break dance party! Honor that inclination to move and give it room. Then set a timer to focus for maybe 15 minutes. Help teach them how to map a strategy to get the work done and also allow room to move.
Breakfast Sets the Daily Tone
What your child eats for breakfast is crucial for setting up a successful learning day. Protein is key here—it provides steady energy and helps maintain focus. Try adding extra eggs to the pancake batter to boost the protein (gluten-free for me please!). Quick scrambled eggs or an omelet that they get to “dress”, serve breakfast sausage on the side, or find other creative ways to get quality protein into that first meal.
Please skip the sugary cereals. Your child's brain will thank you for choosing foods that fuel learning instead of creating energy crashes.
Discover Their Learning Style
One of my favorite stories comes from a 7th-grade teacher who pulled each student aside during the first week to ask: "How do you learn best in the classroom? What is distracting? What is helpful?"
When was the last time anyone asked you these questions? Understanding how your child learns best—whether they need to move their hands while listening, learn better through writing, or need visual or audio aids—can make all the difference in their school experience. What will help you naturally focus?
Don't Overlook the Gut-Brain Connection
Here's something many parents don't realize: when your child's stomach hurts, it's hard for them to pay attention. If they're not digesting or absorbing food well, they miss key nutrients and calming factors that support focus and learning.
Pay attention to complaints about tummy aches, irregular bathroom habits, or digestive issues. These aren't just minor inconveniences—they can significantly impact your child's ability to learn and feel comfortable at school. The good news is that digestive issues are very manageable with the right support, I’d be happy to help.
Planning Ahead for Success
The key to a smooth school year isn't perfection—it's preparation. Set yourself up for success by:
Keeping rescue remedy easily accessible (car, kitchen, backpack)
Having bubbles in the kitchen for quick stress relief and breathing practice
Stocking herbal teas and natural remedies before you need them
Establishing morning routines that include movement and protein-rich breakfasts
Creating calm spaces at home where kids can decompress after school
Make room for movement, have a dance party! Bring on the yoga, you can do it together
Remember: You're Not Alone
Whether your child is struggling with focus, dealing with first-day nerves, or you're feeling overwhelmed as a parent, support is available. Sometimes what looks like behavioral issues or attention problems actually has simple, treatable root causes. When I help kiddos get their stomach feeling better they become better able to communicate their needs. When they know what they need they can help us find them the right learning environment, snacks and lunch composition and set them up for the most successful school year possible.
The transition back to school is a big one for the whole family. Be patient with yourself and your children as everyone adjusts to new routines. With the right tools, preparation, and understanding, this can be a wonderful year of growth and learning for everyone.
You can do this, and you don't have to do it alone. I'm here & happy to help you create the natural focus support your child needs to thrive.