Battling the Back to School Butterflies

Patience is a virtue...especially at back to school time.  Pay special attention to your child to look for warning signs of anxiety.  Some children will come straight out with it, by creating a new and life-threatening ailment  in their imaginations each morning to keep from going back to school.  Other children are far more introspective, but a watchful eye can still pick out the warning signs of anxiety.  You know your children best, so you will be best qualified to identify warning signs of back to school butterflies.  Whether their summer was jam-packed with activities or filled with complaints about being bored with nothing to do, kids often have a tough time making the back-to-school transition.

As with any new or potentially unsettling situation — like starting school for the first time or entering a new grade or new school — allow kids time to adjust. Remind them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and that it will all become an everyday routine in no time.

Emphasize the positive things about going back to school, such as hanging out with old friends, meeting new classmates, buying cool school supplies, getting involved in sports and other activities, and showing off the new duds (or snazzy accessories if your child has to wear a uniform).

It's also important to talk to kids about what worries them and offer reassurance: Are they afraid they won't make new friends or get along with their teachers? Is the thought of schoolwork stressing them out? Are they worried about the bully from last year?

Consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it's especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the schoolday for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don't have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give kids as much time as they need, especially during those first few days.

If your child is starting a new school, contact the school before the first day to arrange a visit. And ask if your child can be paired up with another student, or "buddy," and if you can be connected with other new parents. This will help both of you with the adjustment to new people and surroundings. Some schools give kids maps to use until things become more familiar.

To help ease back-to-school butterflies, try to transition kids into a consistent school-night routine a few weeks before school starts. Also make sure that they:

• get enough sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they'll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning)
• eat a healthy breakfast breakfast (they're more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day)
• write down the need-to-know info to help them remember details such as their locker combination, what time classes and lunch start and end, their homeroom and classroom numbers, teachers' and/or bus drivers' names, etc.
• use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc.
• have them organize and set out what they need the night before (homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the door and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms)

Although it's normal to be anxious in any new situation, a few kids develop real physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, associated with the start of school. If you're concerned that your child's worries go beyond the normal back-to-school jitters, speak with your child's doctor, teacher, or school counselor.

Source:  KidsHealth and The Pin

"Mom I can't concentrate in school"

W-O-W!  Wiseup-On-Water.  Poor hydration adversely affects a child’s mental performance and learning ability.  Symptoms of mild dehydration include light-headedness, dizziness, headaches and tiredness (18), as well as reduced alertness and ability to concentrate.(19,20)Once thirst is felt, mental performance including memory, attention and concentration can decrease by about 10 per cent. Mental performance deteriorates progressively as the degree of dehydration increases.(19,21,22)  Thirst is usually felt when dehydration reaches 0.8-2 percent loss of body weight due to water loss.(18)  For a 10-year-old child weighing 30kg this is the equivalent to one or two large glasses of water (300ml each).

Water consumption also has an immediate “alerting” and “revitalising” effect.(19)  In schools taking part in the Food in Schools water provision pilot project, teachers reported that “enhanced water provision contributed to a more settled and productive learning environment, as well as helping instill good habits”.(23)

18 Kleiner SM. Water: An essential but overlooked nutrient.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1999:99:201-7
19 Rogers PJ, Kainth A, Smit HJ. A drink of water can improve or
impair mental performance depending on small differences in
thirst. Appetite 2001;36:57-58
20 Sherriffs SM, unpublished data, as quoted in Maughan RJ.
Impact of mild dehydration on wellness and on exercise
performance. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003;57
(Suppl 2):S19-23
21 Gopinathan PM, Pichan G, Sharma VM. Role of dehydration
in heat stress-induced variations in mental performance.
Archives of Environmental Health 1988;43:15-17
22 Sharma VM, Sridharan K, Pichan G, Panwar MR. Influence of
heat-stress induced dehydration on mental functions.
Ergonomics 1986;29:791-99
23 Food in Schools: Water Provision Toolkit.
http://foodinschools.datacenta.uk.net/home.asp?idTopic=0&id
Page=1
1996;5:161-166 

So your child is obese...

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Nobody needs to tell your dear child that he or she is overweight.  They already know, and they are already trying to process it any way they can.  Unfortunately, without your help, the way they process it could lead to further problems like secret eating and low self esteem.  Go ahead and talk with your child about weight. Allow him or her to tell you about feelings that she may not have talked about before. We went through many of the same things.  There’s nothing new under the sun.  Being picked last for teams, being teased at school, struggling in sports, being ridiculed or having difficulty fitting into clothes are just a few of the pains overweight children may have to endure. 

You are the absolute best person to talk to your child about his or her weight because nobody loves your child more.  Therefore, nobody else can empathize as you can.  These frustrations and pains need to be expressed by your child and then validated by you.  Don’t shrink back; it’s the right thing to do.  Encourage.  Listen.  Validate, Empathize.  RELATE.  Be available.

Unconditional love and acceptance are the life-blood of a child who struggles with weight problems.  You are the primary source of such love, so pour it on with reckless abandon.

Don’t do anything too harsh or rash like super strict diets…it will backfire.  Rather, make small adjustments here and there to put the right things to eat in front of your child.  The last thing you should do is to highlight the fact your child is overweight by over-reacting with harsh diets.  That could spell rejection, which is the opposite of unconditional love.

Kids come in all shapes and sizes, and genetic pre-disposition can be a hard taskmaster.  That’s why good habits and small steady adjustments are the best defense against the propensity for your child to be overweight.

We speak about water a lot, for obvious reasons.  However, we are not concerned about kids drinking more water because we’re in the water business.  We’re in the water business because we’re concerned about kids drinking more water.  That disclaimer said, ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO DRINK MORE WATER!  It will greatly aid metabolism, it will help them to process their meals, and it will “fill the gap” with something healthy and life-giving rather than something fattening like sugary sodas, sweets or even juice.

Your example is the absolute best thing you can offer your child.  If you want him or her to develop good eating and drinking habits, exhibit good eating and drinking habits.

Resist the urge to set a timetable for weight loss.  In fact, weight loss is not the issue at all…good habits are.  Rather than a timetable, make a LIFE change.  Over time, you will begin to see the benefits not only in your child’s weight but in their overall good health.  The good news is, kids learn fast.  It may not seem like it when it’s time to make the bed, but it’s true.  Go for “possible”, not “perfect”. 

Children learn fast, and they learn best by example. Teach your child habits that will help keep her healthy for the rest of her life.

Pick Five:  Choose five realistic goals, such as substituting fatty foods for healthy ones; serving water instead of soda; buy flavoured water instead of juice (shameless but true); buy complex carbohydrates instead of simple ones.

Finally, be patient.  Be patient.  Be patient.  And above all, pour on the unconditional love and affirmation…it’s better to have a slightly overweight child who knows they are loved than a skinny one who doesn’t.

Sincerely,
The Pin

You Are What You DRINK!

It's widely known that you are what you eat.  But let's not forget you are what you DRINK as well!  A  recent KidsHealth Article says that "For kids of all ages, water and milk are the best choices, so let them flow. Not only is water calorie-free, but drinking it teaches kids to accept a low-flavor, no-sugar beverage as a thirst-quencher."

So let the water flow!

Your Friends,

Luna and Lara