“Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell,” sing the White Stripes on ‘We’re Going to Be Friends’. For adults, this season usually buzzes with nostalgia for the sounds and sights of the strange autumn beginning of a new academic year; for our children, it’s the time when those intense sensory memories will be forged, and then locked in their hearts forever. No one forgets the fall chill in the air, those shiny shoes, that gleaming replacement pencil sharpener, the first fumbling conversation with a firm new friend…
Even under normal circumstances, going back to school carries a natural sting of giddy trepidation: Am I still going steady with whatshisname? Can I avoid getting that Math teacher again? How do I get to the new classroom? Wait – did I have any summer assignments to do? This year, however, all the usual anxieties are overlaid with a whole school backpack’s worth of pandemic-triggered worry, for parent and child alike: Will they be able to concentrate? Can they stay calm? Should we be concerned about all those kid-stained surfaces? Am I transferring my own anxiety onto my child, who appears on the surface to be a lot more confident about navigating all this upheaval than I do?
While some of these fears are probably just a benign bit of parental overthinking, other concerns are pressing and legitimate. School is hard enough already, without the disruption to learning that the pandemic has wrought all over the world. Separation from friends, the challenges of digital learning, motivation outside the classroom setting, and adapting to new rules and ways of interacting have all had a measurable impact on student learning and well-being; one Stanford University study estimated that the learning loss from school closures alone may be as high as 60% in some districts.
Take a deep breath with your brave and resilient child – and take heart in the fact that essential oils can be a useful weapon in your armory in the fight against Back to School jitters! (Keep in mind that the aromas of essential oils may be a little overpowering for smaller children, so adjust your concentrations accordingly, and avoid using essential oils with children under five years of age.)
There are lots of ways essential oils can help you both prepare for the bumpy but exciting weeks ahead, whether it be keeping everyone calm and relaxed, to improving steady focus, to assuage worries about cleanliness. Make the creative use of essential oils as your child’s new best buddy!
Hear the yell, and the ring of that bell? Well then – tie those shiny new shoes, strap on that backpack, and let’s get back to school, armed with the 10 worry-busting essential oil recipes below!
While they are scrambling around for their pencil case and Chemistry textbook, let a calming diffuser blend of Lavender, Chamomile, Lemon and Rose essential oils gently take the anxiety out of that first morning.
Perhaps your child would like a calming reminder of your support for them during the school day? Try packing a handkerchief in their backpack, infused with just a few drops of Clary Sage, Neroli and Ylang Ylang essential oils.
Should they need a little boost of positivity and confidence as they negotiate the exciting school arena of brand new friendships, perfume that handkerchief with a few drops of Peppermint, Cypress and Frankincense essential oils instead.
While there’s unfortunately no evidence that essential oils kill the coronavirus, you can make a great-smelling hand sanitizer the following way: just mix three parts isopropyl alcohol with one part aloe vera gel in a small plastic dispenser bottle. You can then add a few drops of Tea Tree, Sweet Orange and Patchouli essential oils to make those little hands smell extra fresh.
Let’s face it, the rubber seals on those lunchboxes start getting a little funky by day two. Refresh them with this antiseptic blend of Peppermint, Tea Tree and Lemongrass essential oils diluted in a half cup of white vinegar.
No one likes homework, do they? It’s got to be done though, so make the whole thing a little less painful with this mind-focusing diffuser blend of Grapefruit, Spearmint and Lemon essential oils.
Even if they’ve been busy over the holidays, your kids may well be feeling the burn after their first day back at soccer practice. Dilute Black Pepper, Roman Chamomile and Copaiba essential oils in a carrier oil such as jojoba, and massage their aches away.
Thank goodness, it’s not Covid – but it turns out your child has a bit of an autumn cough. Try this chest rub mixture of coconut oil, shea butter and Eucalyptus, Clove, Lavender and Peppermint essential oils.
Did they break up with whatshisname after all? Did so and so not invite them to her birthday party? Does Chemistry just really suck? Things are never as bad as they seem. Help your child find some perspective with this grounding diffuser blend of Blue Cypress and Vetiver essential oils.
Now they’re in bed, have you remembered to unwind? Put your feet up, and put this de-stressing blend of Cedarwood, Amyris, Coriander and Juniper Berry essential oils in your diffuser. Today was another win!
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