Help Your Child Deal With Back to School Jitters

Follow this simple guide in helping your child deal with back to school jitters and anxiety.

1. Unstable blood sugars can contribute to jitters.

Give your child a balanced breakfast, free from artificial ingredients, with some protein and fiber. Fiber slows digestion of carbohydrates reducing spikes and crashes in blood sugar. Fruits like dried apricots, apples, and blueberries are lower in glycemic index and provide fiber which will help sustain brain activity throughout the day. Get rid of the high sugar cereals for breakfast which may cause spiked fluctuations in blood sugar. Keep your child hydrated with water and low sugar drinks.

2. Ensure your child has proper rest at night.

Providing your child with a good night sleep is a little more difficult than usual when he/she is anticipating the new school year ahead. Your child may be having late night anxiety about going back to school. Be proactive by making a daily routine in advance to get your child transitioned from summer vacation to daily School. Giving a warm bath 1 hour before bed may ease and calm your child into an easier slumber. There are tools out there which can help. A useful app for small children that helps kids find mindfulness is called Stop, Breathe, and Think for kids. This may be helpful in calming children to rest peacefully.

3. Be a Positive Force in Your Child’s Life.

Get off to a good start. Speak positive thoughts out loud together in the mirror before heading off to school. Today will be an amazing day! I am unstoppable today! Consistent motivational affirmations can help wire your child’s thought process for success. Create a mindset for confidence. What they think they become. On the way into school, play motivational music. Music can be a soothing, healing influence. It can encourage happy chemicals to arrive into the bloodstream making the mood more stable.

4. Teach Your Child How to Manage Fear

First validate your child’s Fears. Fear of the unknown is stressful for children. Often, parents de-value children’s feelings as if they are less important than their own. When your child reports he/she is scared of new experiences, teach your child to slowly breathe into the scary feelings when they have them and then breathe the scary feelings out. Deep slow breaths increase oxygenation and circulation to the brain. As well, it stimulate the parasympathetic system to help calm and relax the body.