What do kids need when going back to school besides textbooks?

Starting school or nursery is never easy, especially at a difficult and unusual time like this. It is a change that both kids and parents need to adjust to – a new routine, new people, a different environment and more. Some kids take it in their stride, while others find it much harder. Much like adults, everyone responds to change and social situations differently. In this article, we share a few natural supplements and products that may help make the transition into school easier while also supporting kids' immunity and resilience during the more demanding autumn months.

For concentration

ADHD and hyperactivity are widely discussed in relation to kids today. It is a fairly complex subject and deserves an article of its own, as these issues, like many health concerns, can be linked to diet and lifestyle overall and may sometimes also reflect the way kids respond to rigid or outdated conditions in state education. That, however, is a discussion for another day.

As a natural option and first step for helping kids settle, you can try the Calming Drops from North American Herb & Spice, with extracts of hops and chamomile. Alongside these calming herbs, they also contain oregano and cinnamon oils. Both oils support the body's resilience (oregano is also known as a natural antibiotic), while cinnamon also supports brain function, cognition, memory and concentration. The drops are gently sweetened with yacon syrup and flavoured with peppermint and orange oils to make them more appealing to kids :). They are not only for school-age kids either – they can also be used for younger kids who need help settling before bedtime when they find it difficult to fall asleep.

For prevention

ALL-IMPORTANT VITAMIN D

Vitamin D deficiency is one reason why so many people become unwell during winter and spring. Vitamin D is essential for immune function. Its best natural source is sunlight, which enables the body to produce it itself. During periods with little sunshine, we naturally tend to have less of it. A common misconception is that mainly vegans and vegetarians need to supplement vitamin D because everyone else gets enough from fish. In our climate, however, very few people have regular access to fresh, high-quality oily fish, which is particularly rich in this vitamin. Even if we did, we would need to eat fish every day, while for most of us it appears on the plate no more than once a week. This is why vitamin D supplementation is worth considering for everyone from the beginning of autumn, throughout winter and into early spring.

But how do you get kids to take it without a fuss? Some older generations may still remember the compulsory spoonful of fish oil with its less-than-appealing taste and smell after arriving at nursery. With wild Alaskan salmon fish oil for kids from North American Herb & Spice, that is less of an issue – it is gently sweetened with grape syrup and flavoured with orange extract and cinnamon. Alongside vitamin D, this supplement is also rich in vitamin A and unsaturated fatty acids (it contains 37 different polyunsaturated acids, including omega-5, omega-6 and omega-9), which are also important for brain function and  concentration.

FOR A HEALTHY MICROBIOME
Probiotics, or beneficial bacteria in the gut, are involved not only in digesting food but also form one of the foundations of immune function. They do much more besides, and some scientists even describe the gut microbiome as a newly discovered organ. You can read more about what probiotics do in our article here. To help beneficial gut bacteria thrive, they also need substances known as prebiotics to feed on. These can be found in various cultured and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, miso and kombucha. If you use probiotic supplements, look for products that already include prebiotics as well – these are known as synbiotics. For kids and the whole family, Family synbiotics with banana and baobab from Living Nutrition are a practical option.

FOR HAND HYGIENE
Hand sanitiser can be useful at any time – we often travel on crowded public transport, hold frequently touched handrails, pay in shops or touch door handles in public buildings without having an immediate opportunity to wash our hands. Whatever your view of hand sanitising, it can sometimes be difficult to avoid. The main active ingredient in most hand sanitisers is alcohol, which disrupts harmful microorganisms. Conventional sanitisers, however, may contain other synthetic and potentially irritating substances alongside alcohol. It therefore makes sense to choose well-established products with a simple, natural formulation for kids at school and adults at work.

Odylique hand sanitiser has a certified natural formulation and, unlike many conventional sanitisers, has a pleasant scent. Alongside alcohol, it contains calendula tincture, traditionally used for skin care, together with a blend of essential oils including tea tree, lavender and citrus, which complement its cleansing and skin-supporting properties while also giving the spray a fresh fragrance. Alternatively, you can choose sanitising sprays from North American Herb & Spice. There are two options – Germ-a-Clenz sanitising spray with cinnamon oil or Oregaspray antiseptic and sanitising spray, whose main active ingredient is clove oil. Both sprays are alcohol-free, pleasantly scented and edible. They can be used on hands as well as for freshening and cleaning the air, rooms, fruit and vegetables and more.

Even natural sanitiser can place a strain on the skin when used repeatedly every day. Alcohol and essential oils affect not only harmful microorganisms but also the beneficial microbiome living on the skin's surface. Very frequent use can also disrupt the skin's protective barrier, leaving it dry and potentially cracked, and cracks can then provide an easy entry point for pathogens. So even when using natural sanitiser, remember to care properly for your own hands and your kids' hands. For hand care, we recommend probiotic creams from The Ohm Collection, which help support the skin barrier and microbiome. Alongside probiotics, these creams are also unusual in being free from glycerine, an ingredient found in most hand creams. So there is no unpleasant sticky feeling afterwards. There are three versions to choose from – hypoallergenic for very sensitive skin or kids, with sacred frankincense fragrance or with lime and cardamom fragrance.

ADJUSTING
Still finding it difficult to say goodbye without tears even after several months at school or nursery? Whether your child is facing separation from their parents for the first time or finding it difficult to manage strong emotions after a longer break, preparation can make a real difference. There are many approaches parents can use to make this challenging period easier and help their child adjust to school or nursery. You are sure to find the approach that suits your family best and helps you move through this period with greater ease."

For colds and other seasonal troubles

And what if you or your kids do come down with something? Oregano oil is commonly used to support immunity during illness and is often described as one of the strongest natural antibiotics and antiseptics. Some people, however, find its intense, peppery taste difficult to tolerate. H2OREGA™ micellised Oreganol P73 oil was created with more sensitive palates in mind, including kids. It has a milder taste and is also water-soluble, so it can be added to juice or other drinks. It can also be suitable for very young kids, breastfeeding or pregnant women, older people and even pets, subject to the directions on the label. Another option is OREGA-CINN, which also contains cinnamon oil, traditionally valued for its wide range of properties, and is gently sweetened with yacon syrup for a more pleasant taste. OREGA-CINN is also available as a spray, which is well suited to sore throats.

To make breathing easier and help freshen and cleanse the air, not only during a cold, there is the Breathe Ease essential oil blend from Odylique, containing carefully selected essential oils suitable for kids under 10. Starting school or nursery can also bring another unwelcome visitor – one rather larger than viruses and bacteria: head lice. Most of us have encountered these parasites at least once and remember the unpleasant itching and biting, followed by either damage to the hair from harsh chemical insecticides or, in the worst case, a very short haircut. Before turning to these drastic measures, try a completely natural essential oil blend for head lice, also from Odylique.

The most effective way to remove head lice is thorough combing. Comb the hair every day with a special fine-toothed comb, ideally while wet. Repeat this for a full 14 days to remove newly hatched lice before they have a chance to lay eggs again. For an overnight treatment, the HAIR LICE GUARD essential oil blend works well. Mix 8-10 drops of the blend with 4 tablespoons of argan, olive or jojoba oil, massage into the scalp and hair, wrap with cling film and leave overnight. In the morning, comb through the hair, wash with Odylique tea tree shampoo and finish with an acidic rinse (1 tablespoon of good-quality apple cider vinegar in half a litre of boiled, distilled or spring water + a few drops of the essential oil blend), then leave it in without rinsing.