4 Back to School Stress Busters

In getting your children ready for the back to school rush you are probably facing a considerable amount of stress. It is easy to become overwhelmed by a seemingly endless list of demands.  Making sure your kids have all their “nutritional holes” filled by taking supplements is top on everyone’s list – along with school supplies, schedules and everything else you have to worry about. It’s not easy to prioritize in times of chaos because lets face it – it ALL needs to get done and it’s ALL stuff we need to worry about. But back to school means your kids are exposed to hundreds of other kids – or “germ factories” if you will.  If you know your child does not get enough of the right balance of vitamins and minerals, its always a good idea to supplement.  Especially with the vitamins and minerals – like Vitamin C – that support a strong immune system.

But lifestyle is important too – to help minimize yours and your child’s stress as they return to school try these stress buster tips:

Adjust to the New Routine

Ease into the school-year schedule. Getting back into the school routine can be a challenge for everyone in the family. To make the adjustment easier, start early.

  • A few weeks before school starts, move bedtime back to the time you plan to
  • Put a positive spin on going back to school. Talk about the fun things your child will learn, the old friends he’ll see and the new friends he’ll make.
  • Establish school-day schedules for homework, TV, baths and bedtime.
  • Arrange play dates with friends from school to re-establish connections that may have been dropped for the summer, or to create new ones.

Get Organized

Take advantage of the slower pace during your time away from school to set up for the busy school year ahead.

  • Many schools send out school information and a packet of forms to fill out before school starts. If you can discipline yourself to fill out the paperwork several days before it’s due, you’ll avoid a last-minute panic.
  • Have the necessary immunization records available for easy reference.
  • As you read through all the school information, mark important dates (such as back-to-school night, parent-teacher conferences and school holidays) on the family calendar.
  • Find a consistent place for school newsletters and other papers so that you can easily find and refer to them if necessary.
  • Establish a “get ready the night before” policy. Pick clothes for the next day and pack the backpack every evening before bedtime, and you’ll save precious time in the morning.

Nutrition: Plan Healthy Meals—and Supplement!

Get creative with easy, healthy ideas for school-day meals. If you plan and gather what you need on the weekends, you’ll make life a lot less stressful and meals more nutritious during the week.

Set Priorities and Schedules

To make the best use of your time and keep life from being harried, think about priorities for family members and then schedule them into the week. Start a family calendar in a common area where each family member can write down his or her activities. Discuss what extracurricular activities your child(ren) will participate in. Be realistic and don’t fall victim to “over-programming”.

Prepare for the Homework Ahead!

Having set routines and a place to study at home will make it easier for your child to be organized and successful at school.

Some good homework best practices:

  • Set up a well-lit, quiet place with a good work surface to do homework. Try to keep this place dedicated to homework and free of other clutter.
  • Establish a regular homework time. This will help your student to complete assignments on time.
  • Discourage distractions such as television, radio, Internet or phone conversations during homework time.