Is Your Child Ready To Go Back To School?

Back-to-school season most often makes us think about shopping for backpacks, lunch boxes, and new shoes for our kids.

But one thing many parents don’t think about is preparing their child’s brain and body for months of learning, growing, sitting, carrying backpacks, playing sports, changing routines, and increased exposure to germs.

Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading into high school, the transition back to school places new demands on their nervous system and body. September can be one of the biggest transitions of the entire year for them. 

I’d love to share with you some simple habits that can help your children stay healthier, move better, and feel their best throughout the school year.

School Changes More Than Just Their Schedule

Once school starts up again most kids experience less free movement and spend more time sitting than they did in the summer. In some cases, they also have to wake up earlier than they did in the summer in combination with the hours of sunlight starting to dwindle.

There are usually more mental demands associated with school than what they were used to for the last 2-3 months, requiring their focus and attention for longer periods of time.

For kids in competitive sports or recreational activities, these usually start up again at the same time that school starts. Where summer can encourage more unstructured play, the fall and winter requires more structured activity time filling up their schedules.

Kids immune systems also get more of a workout once they go back to school. For some, the start of school can bring stress and fear of the unknown, for others excitement, but in both cases it definitely activates their nervous system, especially the fight or flight component. Their little bodies are adapting to all these changes all at the same time.

Movement Matters

These days I find there are two extremes when it comes to movement for school aged children. 

Group 1: sit for most of the day at school, then spend their evenings doing homework, watching tv, or playing video games or on screens at home. They certainly don’t get enough daily movement considering how little is required in the physical education curriculum at schools.

Group 2: children who are enrolled in competitive sports jump right into multiple days per week of practices/and or games. Without adequate care and recovery, too much activity can create repetitive stress on their bodies. Competitive sports today start at a much earlier age than they once did, with higher demands on the body at a younger age than ever before. 

Neither group is ideal. Trying to find a balance where kids can have varied movement, play outside and climb, run, balance, in addition to their chosen “sport” is helpful. Having regular chiropractic care is also helpful for a healthy spine and nervous system as it goes through it’s most exponential phase of development. 

Posture Isn’t Just About Sitting Up Straight

The biggest concern when it comes to posture is staying in the same position for too long. This is as true for kids as it is for adults. These days, the most concerning posture that kids take on is not just how they sit at school, but how they sit while using tech devices likes tablets and phones.

Reducing screen time, placing time limits on screen usage, and improving head and neck posture while using devices can all combat the effects of poor posture while using screens. Ideally a 20 minute maximum in one position is ideal. The head and neck shouldn’t be flexed forward the whole time as this impacts their cervical curve in their neck and creates a shift forward in their head posture. Having time to play and move their bodies after school is so beneficial.

Growing Bodies Deserve Attention

Think about how much your child grew last year… maybe all their pants were suddenly too short, or their feet went up 1-2 sizes in the span of a few months.

As they grow quickly they may experience:

• coordination changes
• change in how they perceive their body position in space
• muscle tightness
• sports overload/injury 
• temporary awkwardness, changes in their gait pattern 
• growing pains 

The value of chiropractic care during childhood lies in supporting the body through all these changes. Beyond muscles and joints, chiropractic influences the nervous system, helping with regulation and connection between the brain and body.

Why We Check the Spine and Nervous System

At our office, we’re less interested in just asking “Where does it hurt?”

Instead we look at:

• how your child moves
• joint mobility/ range of motion
• balance
• posture
• coordination
• muscle function/strength
• nervous system regulation
• developmental milestones 
• primitive reflexes

Many movement restrictions don’t immediately cause pain but may influence comfort, movement efficiency, performance, other body systems like digestion, or how children participate in daily activities.

Regular checkups can help identify issues early and support the development of a healthy spine and nervous system as children grow.

Sleep: The Secret Weapon

I know we struggle with getting our kids to bedtime all summer long, especially when it’s still light out at 9 pm and they’re outside having fun and being active. Come the start of the school year though, it becomes more important to have a consistent sleep schedule because sleep truly affects everything! Their ability to heal and recovery, their focus and attention, immune function, you name it!

Sleep affects

• learning
• memory
• mood
• growth hormone release
• immune function
• recovery
• athletic performance

Ideally, starting about 2 weeks before the start of school is a good time to slowly reel back bedtime and increase their sleep so they are ready for the demands that September brings. Start with 15 minutes at a time until you reach their ideal bedtime. Have a plan with your family to create a consistent bedtime and bedtime routine, reduce screen use at least one hour before their bedtime, and make sure their room is cool and dark for the best sleep.

Where Chiropractic Fits In

Regular chiropractic assessments can help monitor how a growing child’s body is adapting to school, sports, and everyday life.

Combined with good nutrition, quality sleep, regular movement, and healthy habits, chiropractic care can be one tool that supports children’s overall health and physical development.

At ECC, we have been seeing some of our school aged kids since before conception! This is hard to believe, but some kids headed into grade 5 and 6 this year were at one time the baby in the womb of a pregnant patient. Some of our high school aged patients were just little toddlers when they first started coming.

If you have been seeing us for a while but have never thought of bringing in your children, please ask your doc any questions that you have about how it could benefit them.