3 Ways to Avoid the Back-to-School Meltdowns

By: Becky Cummings

You have waited weeks for this moment. The bittersweet transition of back to school. Maybe you are home, so you get to trade in your cold coffee and noisy mornings for peace while you sip hot coffee. Perhaps you work, so the a.m. camp hustle flips to the a.m. school hustle, and you are relieved to stop overpaying for summer camps. Even homeschooling moms can relate, lazy mornings may take on more structure and resistance! Just when you think your kids will finally be back in a routine, cue the meltdowns! Our kids may be spending less time at home, but they seem to pack a punch in those few hours they are back.

The first few weeks of school are hard! Kids are transitioning from summer’s slower pace. Those that are home are used to snacking when they choose and roaming freely. If they do camps, they are used to fun activities that they prefer. Then boom goes the dynamite. New class, a new set of kids they may not know, adults telling them what to do, and when to do it. Even homeschool kids feel the shock of pulling out the books and switching over to work mode. It can be quite a culture shock for little minds to adjust. Here are 3 areas to focus on to support children during the first few weeks of school.

Focus on Nutrition

The body runs like a car and needs the best fuel to make it run well. I remember when I was in the classroom our school had a hot lunch program. I was in shock that they were feeding the kids sugar-filled, processed muffins to start their day! When kids consume that type of breakfast, they are going to have bursts of energy and then crash with exhaustion. Be sure to give kids a super healthy start to their day. Fruit is one of the most powerful foods to give kids. I love to make my kids smoothie bowls for breakfast. I use high-quality organic orange juice, bananas, and wild blueberries. If I want to make it superpowered I’ll add dulse flakes, spirulina, barley grass, and cilantro. This recipe comes from the Medical Medium. Many times, I’ll add homemade granola on top. I included both recipes below.

When it comes to lunch, I remember the days of chips and boloney sandwiches. That was after my ice cream breakfast. It blows my mind what I used to eat. I’m thankful I can function as an adult! Now I focus on preparing my kids with the best nutrition I can. I am far from perfect, but I try to keep them on track 80% of the time because if they eat a junky meal it’s quite evident after! Their behavior is off, sometimes they anger easily or are super sensitive. It is fascinating how much food affects the body. In my book, My Magical Foods, I encourage kids to eat fruits and vegetables. I explain why it’s important, share some animals that are plant-based, and give some ideas for healthy snacks. There is a checklist in the book kids can use to try new things. If you don’t have the book yet, you can grab the checklist for free here!

Focus on Feelings

Kids’ actions are coming from their feelings and thoughts. By having them talk about their feelings and connecting to the right side of their brains, you can offer them support. Teach them to use, “I feel” statements.

“I feel _________________________ because _____________________________ so

___________________________. Let them know that all feelings are okay. Many of us have been taught that certain feelings are good, while others are bad. If we pass this viewpoint to our children, they may try to avoid the “bad” feelings which cause them to be trapped in the body and cause issues later. The more they can express themselves without judgment, the better they will process the feelings and move through them.

A great book to help kids explore their many feelings is called, My Magical Feelings (Book #6 in the Magic of Me Series). It compares feelings to colorful crayons that bring variety to the world and allow them to experience it. When children know that all feelings are okay, they learn to trust themselves and feel empowered to move through them. Rather than ignoring or pushing them away, children learn to name their feelings and feel them all without judgment. This lays the foundation for children to become conscious adults.

Children may not have control over how they feel, but they do have control over how they react to their feelings. By teaching children to accept all feelings and honor them, they can make better choices in their daily lives.

Focus on Routine

A new school year brings much change which can overwhelm a child. To help them stay grounded, keep their home routine set so they have some familiarity. This includes wake-up time, homework time, bath time, bedtime, and more. Sprinkle in some special moments into the ordinary and you can help boost your mindset. For example, take bath time and add a new toy, bubbles, an essential oil, bath salts, or peaceful music. At bedtime, how about bringing out a new book or pair of jammies.

Change is part of the human experience and kids need to go through it. As parents, we can help our children with transitions through a lens of compassion. In those first few weeks, muster all your patience and be ready to invest some extra time after school for snuggles, talks, and extra love in those daily routines.

(bath)

Blueberry Banana Smoothie (adapted from the Medical Medium Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie)

1 c orange juice

1 banana

1 c wild blueberries

Optional add-ins:

Work up to 1 Tsp of barley grass powder, spirulina, dulse flakes

½ bunch of organic cilantro

Blend and drink fresh

Granola

4 c organic rolled oats

1 ½ c of seeds or nuts

½ c melted coconut oil

½ c maple syrup

1 tsp of cinnamon

½ tsp of sea salt

Mix-ins (add once baked and cooled)

Cranberries/cherries or other dried fruit

½ c chocolate chips

Mix ingredients in a bowl and spread on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes and stir. Bake another 12 minutes. Allow to fully cool then add other mix-ins.