Back to School: Ways to Use Essential Oils

Kids face a lot of challenges as they go back to school! Even if they’re excited about going back, the changes can be stressful and trigger some strong emotions. 

Younger children might struggle with separation anxiety and need support adjusting to a new place with new people.  Even older kids go through stress as they go back to school. It might mean a different schedule, changing bedtimes, being surrounded by new people and new germs!

5 Ways to use essential oils for back to school

1. Attention and Focus

An essential oil back to school blend for mental focus can help kids in the classroom and during homework or study sessions.  We all need a little help focusing sometimes!

2. Sleep Well

When kids get enough sleep, they’re more than likely to stay mentally and emotionally centered. It also helps them perform at their best in the classroom (and any sports or after school activities they may take part in)

3. Soothe Emotions

Going back to school can bring up emotional stress. Some kids feel the pressure to perform well or have a lot of responsibilities to balance. Even the change of schedule and environments can be overwhelming. Essential oils can help! 

4. Stay Healthy

Some people describe schools as “germ centers”. Essential oils blends for back to school can help reduce the impact of germs and encourage a strong immunity.

5. Hand Cleanser

This is a must have blend for back to school! Hand cleansers made with aloe vera and essentials oils are effective and natural. It doesn’t’ get any better than that!

Here are a few of my tips for making new routines a breeze

1. Start early 

Don’t wait until the night before school starts to set up new routines for the start of school. Giving yourself and your kiddos a few days, or even a week, to ease into the new schedule will make the transition a happier one for everyone involved.

2. Bedtime routines

A good night’s sleep is the foundation for a good day, so start your back-to-school prep by getting your bedtime routines back on track. Many kids struggle with going to bed, so try these tricks to help make setting a bedtime easier.

•  Go screen free before bed. Turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime. Blue light can interfere with the natural production of sleep hormones.
•  Find natural ways to unwind. Help those wound-up kiddos calm down from a day of summer fun with a relaxing bath or make their room a peaceful sanctuary with essential oils.  
•  Start small and work your way up. If bedtime was nonexistent over the summer, try setting a later bedtime and moving it 15 to 20 minutes earlier each night until you’ve reached your desired time.
•  Have a plan for nights when settling down is tough. On nights when high-energy children need extra help settling down
•  Prepare what you can in advance. Lay out kids’ outfits for the next day to avoid the inevitable morning rush to find something to wear.

3. Morning routines 

Once you’ve got your bedtime routine back to running like a well-oiled machine, it’s time to tackle the chaos that hits each morning.

•  Start setting those alarms again. Even if there are still a few more days left of summer, getting into the habit of rising earlier will make it that much easier on the first day of school.
•  Pick the right scents. Diffuse bright and cheery essential oils to refresh your living spaces such as your kitchen or living room.
•  Keep breakfast super simple. Make breakfast easier by limiting the number of options you give your children. Instead of asking what they want for breakfast, ask them if they’d prefer this or that. This gives children the satisfaction of having a say in what they eat, and you can then choose options that are quick and easy to make.
•  Brace for incoming illnesses. As kids go back to school, they’re inevitably exposed to more sicknesses and viruses. Then they bring those illnesses home and share with the whole family. It’s important to strengthen children’s immune systems. Incorporate children’s supplements into their morning routine to help your kids get a boost of vitamins and minerals to start their day. 
•  Leave plenty of time for lunch prep. Allot enough extra time for your kids to pack their own lunch, or for when you need to help your littlest ones pack theirs. This allows them to weigh all their food options. Allow them to pick foods they prefer so they’re excited for lunch.

4. Create a family schedule 

Do you have multiple kids and can’t ever seem to figure out who should shower when and why there’s a line to use the bathroom when it’s time to get out the door? Create a simple family schedule and start using it the week before school starts to work out any kinks. Have a kid who likes extra-long showers? Have them shower at night before bed. Does your teen need extra bathroom time for primping in the morning? Have them set their alarm 15 minutes early. If everyone knows when it’s their turn in the bathroom, you can avoid the morning bickering and bottlenecks.

5. Space out snacks and meals

If summertime turned your kitchen into a 24/7 cafeteria, setting a few boundaries can help prepare those little tummies for the long breaks between breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks. Let your kiddos know the kitchen is closed after breakfast and limit snacking after lunch.

6. Schedule playdates

Whether your kids are returning to school or starting for the first time, the anticipation of that first day can fill anyone with nervousness and anxiety. Help ease those nerves by setting up play dates with children who will be in their class. Seeing their friend on the first day can allay your child’s fears and worries and replace them with feelings of comfort and excitement.

 7. Create an organized space for school supplies

Avoid the scene where backpacks are thrown on the kitchen table with papers and pencils all over the floor by dedicating a space for all things school related. This can be something simple like a school supply bin or a wall hook where your kids can hang their backpacks. Make children responsible for putting their own school items away. This organized space will also help prevent many school-morning mad dashes to find misplaced items.

As you incorporate these tips into your back-to-school routine, you set your family up for a successful school year!

I would love to know what you do to make it easier for this time of the year!  Post your ideas in the comments below.

Blessings!

XOXO, Alisha