Tips and remedies to help your children ease back into term time
posted: July 2010
Research shows that children thrive on routine, and need healthy boundaries to be maintained while they develop. While it’s a good idea to restore balanced everyday routine in the household as soon as possible following a holiday, it is equally important that this be done in a gentle and realistic manner.
Late nights during the holidays can upset a child’s internal body clock and make it even harder to wake up early on dark school mornings. After weeks of a more relaxed diet, children are inevitably used to sugary snacks, and skipping their veggies – so a sensible school lunch may result in upturned noses, a variety of complaints and even a tantrum or two. Let’s not forget schoolwork – which is definitely a little more challenging after a holiday spent in front of the playstation!
As children ease back into term time, it can be difficult for them to settle into the routine of schoolwork, early nights and stable, pre-holiday behaviour. This period of adjustment can be chaotic and difficult, so this month we focus on getting back into the normal swing of things, and look at how to reinforce (or perhaps re-build) the healthy boundaries that may have weakened over the school break … Hopefully your household routine has stayed in place to a reasonable degree during the holidays, if not – then there is no time like the present to get back into a healthy balanced routine!
Rise ‘n Shine
It is important to remember that a child’s body clock is delicate, and one late night will most likely disrupt their sleep patterns for the school week. It is recommended that children go to bed at an appropriate time during the school year. To work out when your child should be settling to sleep take 11 hours off the time they wake each morning. For example, if your child wakes at 7am, sleep time should be 8pm. Talk with them about why sleep is important and gradually ease them into a healthy routine. Triple Complex Sleep Tonic is a safe natural remedy to promote healthy sleep patterns all-year round, and best of all it’s safe for all ages as it only comprises of tissue salts to support health at a cellular level.
Taken every day, Triple Complex Sleep Tonic can help to re-establish healthy sleep patterns after the disruption of multiple late nights, thereby helping children to adjust their body clocks to suit school timetables.
Once sleep patterns are balanced, there is still the task of setting a routine for pre-school preparations each morning! This can be a chaotic time, will all sorts of delaying tactics from little ones.
Tips for better term time routine (for both you and the kids!):
1. Lay the breakfast table the night before
Apart from perishables, put out everything needed for breakfast the night before. It’s a good idea to keep all breakfast items in one cupboard, and have children take turn in setting it up at night, or first thing in the mornings as part of their morning routine.
2. Put out school clothes, book bags and pack lunches the night before
For smaller children, lay out their school clothes the night before. Older children can organize their clothes themselves – but this should be done the night before to save time. When you say goodnight it’s also a good time for a gentle reminder. It is also a good idea to pre-pack lunches after dinner - you may even want to include any healthy ‘leftovers’. (see our tips for creative takes on school lunches below!)
3. Brush teeth at the kitchen sink
Although this may not be the most appealing idea as far as home décor goes, having kids brush their teeth at the kitchen sink immediately after breakfast saves time and also helps to link two activities together. Kids that need to go to the bathroom to brush their teeth after breakfast are more likely to get distracted and lose momentum. You could keep an extra toothbrush for each child in a kitchen cupboard.
4. Set up a ‘School Corner’
Set up a specific area or ‘school corner’ for kit bags, satchels, swimming bags, sports equipment, ballet bags, library books and whatever else the kids need! Provide at least one basket or box for school shoes (kids should be encouraged to put shoes in the box as soon as they take them off) and a coat stand for school blazers or scarves. Another basket or box should be kept for each child - used as a place to put any school-related items - letters to teachers, music, library books etc. In this way everything is in one place and ready – making it easier to head out in the morning with no fuss.
5. Make a school chart
Sit with your kids and their schedule and make a chart of things needed for each day (gym togs etc) then pin it up at the ‘school corner’ in your house. Have each child check the list each morning. This will help children to remember what they need, and will become good habit in the long run. Keep a notice board on the wall in the ‘school corner’ so that you can pin up reminders, invitations, school menus or whatever else you need to keep tabs on.
6. Give homework a home
This is an important one. Establish a set place and time for doing homework and stick to it. Keep dictionaries, encyclopedias and other relevant books the kids may need nearby. Also keep a stationary drawer filled with extra supplies. This will limit the need for kids to periodically leave their homework to fetch items, and minimize distraction. Make sure that homework is put back into satchels as soon as it is completed and that satchels are returned to ‘school corner’ straight away!
7. Parent's prep
It is just as important for parents to be prepared as it is for kids to plan ahead. If the car is low on petrol (gas), fill up on the way home from school – to save valuable time in the mornings. Another idea is to set your alarm to wake you ten minutes earlier – you will be amazed at what a difference ten minutes makes! Getting to school five minutes early will also go a long way in eliminating stress for your kids. By putting healthy routines in place your kids will feel more comfortable and in control, and give them the best start to a school day. Once they get home and into afternoon routines and schedules, evenings will become less chaotic too. Best of all, by establishing good routines and encouraging children to help you maintain them, you will be encouraging patterns that will last into adulthood.
Routine and the ADHD child
For the ADHD child in particular, school holidays may have provided a slight setback in terms of a steady routine. School term means getting back on track, and making the necessary provisions for ADHD children so that they are better equipped to succeed with the school tasks at hand. A tutor for term time is a good idea – as is regular meetings between parents and teachers to discuss areas that may need particular extra attention. Remember not to isolate your ADHD child too much from your other children. It is important that they feel included, but extra regulations and set schedules for term-time may be necessary.
To give them the extra support they need, Focus Formula can be used all year round to promote good grades and improve alertness during class time while at the same time calming a child so that attention span is focused. Carefully formulated by our Clinical Psychologist to facilitate calmness and clarity of mind, Focus Formula is a 100% safe and natural remedy that improves mental ability and concentration and reduces hyperactivity and restlessness, without the harmful side effects of stimulant drugs.
Using a selection of herbs such as Ginkgo biloba and Centella asiatica known for their supportive function in maintaining brain, nervous system and circulatory health, Focus Formula increases blood flow to the brain allowing for optimal mental functioning, better concentration, and mood regulation in children with ADHD.
BrightSpark is a homeopathic formula that is especially formulated by our Clinical Psychologist to calm busy and impulsive young minds and reduce distractibility and behavioural problems. BrightSpark may be used along with Focus Formula to provide a comprehensive and natural solution for children with ADD or ADHD.
Mental support for school time
Many parents wish to give their kids that extra foundation for information absorption and clarity of mind when learning in class. In the form of an effective biochemic tissue salt formula, Triple Complex Brain Tonic is safe for children of all ages and helps to support healthy brain functioning at the cellular level – ensuring the best absorption of nutrients and oxygen to all brain tissue. Regular use helps to promote concentration and focused attention, helping children to achieve their potential in class.
Study aids for older children
With regard to term time routine – it is a good idea for teens to set a study routine in place now, before the end of year exams. Study periods should be regular with daily re-caps of study notes and key chapters. Study Plus is an all-herbal natural remedy that can be used all year round to support mental alertness and maintained focus while studying. Containing therapeutic doses of the herb Centella asiatica (also known as Gotu cola), this remedy is extremely beneficial in providing mental focus and supporting information absorption and retrieval, without any harsh stimulants.
While studying can prepare your kids for exams, test anxiety and nervousness can sometimes undo all the hard preparation. To combat the nerves and jitters often experienced during an exam, A+ TestCalmer can calm the nerves enough to take the test, but leave the mind mentally alert and focused. Using all-natural ingredients, this remedy can support your teenager safely, without the use of sedatives.
Back to school - or back to bed?
Going back to school can often mean exposure to new germs in the classroom environment. This can lead to sick days and valuable time lost from school. Naturally, fruit and veggies (preferably organic) should be a daily accompaniment to school lunches. But there is an additional way to ensure that the immune system is supported against seasonal flu. BaniFlu is nature’s very own version of the flu vaccine, which can be administered safely – without injection! Using a homeopathic formulation of the current year's flu vaccine with a combination of homeopathic ingredients well known to support immune functioning, BaniFlu stimulates the body’s immunity in a similar way, without toxic side effects.
BaniFlu may be used as a preventative measure and will also assist with speedy recovery from symptoms associated with the flu, while minimizing chances of secondary infection.
Children should also support their immune systems in a natural manner and while regular moderate exercise (school sports or hobbies) and a healthy balanced diet can go a long way to support the immune system, exposure to classmates and hours spent indoors can spread airborne germs. While BaniFlu specifically protects the body against the ‘flu virus, KiddieBoost is a natural product which can be used to maintain healthy immune functioning in children and protect against a host of other infections such as ‘tummy bugs’ vomiting and diarrhea - keeping little bodies strong and healthy.
All ingredients are safe for children and presented in child safe doses. Using a 100 percent herbal remedy, KiddieBoost can support health in the classroom without the use of additives, preservatives or any risk of harmful side effects – as mother nature intended.
For older kids (and adults!), Immunity Plus is a blend of African, Asian and other traditional tonic herbs specifically formulated to be used during the year to optimize immune functioning. These herbs serve many purposes and together they act as a liver tonic, strengthen the immune system, improve body functioning, detoxify the body and enhance recovery after or during illness. This potent and complex remedy is especially useful to those suffering from depressed immune systems or those who wish to reach their optimal level of functioning.
Four exciting tips to add an element of fun to school lunches!
Veggie Shapes: Most kids will try and avoid eating veggies, but cutting them into creative shapes will help to make kids excited about their vegetables! Try including some ‘carrot coins’ and cucumber triangles in lunchboxes. Baby veggies are also a great hit with most kids – baby corn and carrots fit nicely into lunchboxes.
Pick a fun container: What your kids carry their lunches in can make a difference to how they perceive their food. Presentation of a homemade lunch is just as important as it is when served on a plate! Kids especially know this, so look for unusual bags, tins and boxes. Try decorating the inside top of a tin with photos from the holiday and holiday mementos that your kids can share with friends.
Lunchtime Quiz: Try making up riddles, or jumbled words for your kids to unscramble and write them on the outside of the brown paper bag. If you use brown paper bags, decorate them with stickers, especially on holidays like Valentine’s Day or Halloween. Kids will love to show off that ‘something special’ sent from home and there is a wide variety of wonderful stickers out there!
Manic Mondays:
Mondays back at school can be especially hard for children after a weekend spent having fun. On Sunday, pack a child’s lunch with a decorative paper napkin or place a ribbon around plastic cutlery.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure and is not a substitute for a professional consultation with a medical or health professional. Do not make any changes or additions to your prescription medicine without first consulting your doctor. Should symptoms persist, please consult your doctor.
