Help Your Kids Thrive at School This Year with Essential Oils

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Now that school is in full swing, how are things going for you and your kids?

If you are struggling with kids who are unmotivated, tired and cranky, over-scheduled and over-whelmed, stressed and anxious, or kids with runny noses, coughs, colds, and sore throats keep reading for some simple, natural solutions. 

You have likely heard of essential oils and have probably seen them around. They are just about everywhere now.  

Essential oils are not just a fad. They have been around for thousands of years supporting human health. So you can be sure you are not just trying the latest and greatest new thing. You are experimenting with tried and true natural plant wonders that have been used for healing for thousands of years.  {This is not medical advice, so be sure to consult your medical care professional. It is important to educate yourself on the cautions surrounding essential oils as there are many factors to consider.}

They are not just used to make your house smell pretty (although they DO make your house smell amazing and without all the toxic residue from candles). They are potent plant molecules that interact at the cellular level, stimulating the brain and providing physical and psychological benefits. They are among the most powerful healing agents Mother Nature has to offer. 

Please keep this in mind, not all essential oils are created equal. If you have tried them before and were not impressed, you may have used an oil with synthetic fillers and no health benefits.  

Essential oils can be used aromatically (inhaling), topically (applied to the skin), and internally (with guidance from a trusted source).  

When using essential oils topically on children, be sure to dilute them with a carrier oil (coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, etc.). Children have thinner and more sensitive skin than adults so you need to be extra careful. Essential oils are very potent and can cause burning if not used appropriately. {Be sure to read more about the common mistakes associated with essential oils.} 

Let’s dive into some ways you can use these potent gifts from Mother Nature to help your kids thrive at school this year.

Stop struggling to get your kids out the door and on the bus on time.  

Try this get out of bed formula:

Combine equal amounts of peppermint and orange essential oils with fractionated coconut oil in a roller ball bottle. Rub over your kids’ wrists, feet, or back to help wake them up for the day.  

Don’t have a roller ball bottle? Make it simply by pouring one drop of each oil into your palm, rub your palms together, and put your hands by your kids’ faces so they can catch a whiff and be instantly energized.  

Enjoy this invigorating combination in a diffuser while the kids are getting ready in the morning to motivate them and speed the process along.  

Help your kids stay focused at school. 

Try this focus blend:

Combine rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and fractionated coconut oil in a roller ball bottle. Rub it on the back of their necks or along their spines before they leave the house. Pack the roller ball in their backpacks and empower them to use as needed.  

Use this combination in a diffuser during the dreaded homework time.  

You can also use lemon essential oil during homework time to keep them focused on their homework. It’s as simple as putting some lemon oil in the diffuser or having them sniff it straight from the bottle. Added bonus: your house will smell clean even if it isn’t. ?

Or try this powerful combination of frankincense and orange.

Banish homework headaches (for kids and parents).

Apply peppermint (diluted) to temples and the back of the neck. The peppermint will soothe the headache and also give you an energy boost.  

Enhance their memory. 

The following oils can be used to support memory and help with test taking. 

Try any combination of peppermint, rosemary, frankincense, thyme, and sandalwood. Put your favorites in a diffuser during study time to help with retention for test time. If you don’t have a diffuser, you can put a few drops on a cotton ball and keep nearby. Or you can apply them topically on the back of the neck and/or along the spine.   

Bonus tip: the oils will help your memory too. ?

Help ease nervousness and agitation.

Use cedarwood essential oil to help relax and calm the body. Dilute with carrier oil and rub behind ears before, during or after school to promote relaxation. You can also try a combination of lavender and orange.  

Help ease allergy symptoms.

Does the change of seasons bring about runny noses, itchy throats, and watery eyes in your home?

Support the immune system by diffusing a blend of lavender, peppermint, and lemon essential oils. You can also put this combination in a rollerball bottle and apply to the chest and back of neck for the relief of symptoms.  

Support a healthy immune system.

The stress of going back to school can lower the body’s immune response, making your children susceptible to all that is going around.   

Use a combination of orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils to support a healthy immune system. This blend can be used in a diffuser and spread throughout the home. It will also make your house smell like paradise in fall. You can also use it in a rollerball bottle (diluted with fractionated coconut oil) to rub on the bottoms of feet or along the spine.  

Keep the lice bugs away.  

Do you get panic attacks when you get the notice that lice have been detected in your child’s classroom? Keep this handy, simple recipe on hand:

8 ounces filtered or distilled water

3 drops clove essential oil

3 drops melaleuca essential oil

Mix and store in glass spray bottle.

Spray on hair at night (avoid spraying in eyes). No need to rinse out in the morning.  

Help your kids get to sleep at night.

If you want your kids to thrive during the day, they NEED a good rest at night. Getting them to understand and embrace bedtime is a whole different story.  

Thankfully, many essential oils can be used for calming and relaxation. You can mix some oils in a carrier oil or unscented lotion and give them a little massage before bedtime. The combination of the soothing massage and the chemistry of the oils will help to calm them down and settle into bed. You can also diffuse the oils in their rooms. Many diffusers come with a night light and are naturally calming and relaxing.

Try any combination of lavender, vetiver, bergamot, sandalwood, cedarwood, and roman chamomile.   

Some other suggestions:

Establish a routine and stick with it. Despite their reactions to it, kids thrive on routines.  

Avoid screen time a few hours before bed.  

Get plenty of physical activity throughout the day.  

Essential oils are the perfect tool because they are all natural (if purchased from a trusted source), cost-effective, simple to use (with common sense precautions), and kids LOVE to use them. If your kids love science and experimenting, try coming up with your own combinations. Let your kids have their own roller ball bottles (of course you have to use your own judgment on the maturity of your kid) and use as needed. Empower them to take control of their health and their bodies.  

One last tip…

Essential oils are a fun, convenient and effective way to help your kids be healthy and happy, but we can’t ignore the most powerful tool which is NUTRITION. Feeding your kids REAL FOOD (avoiding processed and fast foods) will make a huge impact on their overall health and performance at school.  

I sincerely wish you and your family a successful school year. ?