3 SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP CALM KIDS DOWN NATURALLY (and 7 tools to help you along the way)
If you are the parent of a hyperactive child, or one that has trouble focusing, this post is for you.
I am the mother of three boys who have sensory issues, food allergies and intolerances. This means my house is generally loud and full of action.
After over a decade of learning from specialists, taking educational courses and receiving some training myself, there are a few things I want to share with you that just might help your household AND your sanity.
Assess What They Are Eating
First—and this is foundational—please, please, please take a look at your children’s diet. Diet has a profound effect on behavior, the immune system, nervous system, inflammation, and mental health.
If your children are struggling with behavior or repeat illness, make sure your kids don’t have food sensitivities. Some common culprits are wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, red dye (any dye really, red seems to be the worst) and preservatives.
Food sensitivities weaken the immune system; your child’s body will be in a constant state of actively working every time this food is consumed. And the above foods are in just about everything. You must learn how to read labels if there is a sensitivity and especially if there is an allergy.
It WILL affect their mood and behavior (mental health). Your gut is your second brain. Did you know 90% of your serotonin is in your gut and NOT your brain? Food sensitivities interfere with serotonin levels meaning a sensitive child won’t focus clearly, may have foggy thinking, even headache/migraine, and be irritable (this may be extreme), even angry or very down and sad.
Sugar, juice, processed foods, excess carbs (which turn into sugar later) will also cause the same issues, throwing the body out of balance.
Making some small changes in the diet, a little at a time, may result in some huge noticeable differences. It did for our family!
Begin A Family Meditation Practice
If you or your children have an over-active mind that is hard to settle down, meditation is an amazing way to train your brain to quiet itself. Meditation is a practice. And the more you practice, the more benefits you receive.
Just think: it’s one of those nights, all you want to do is sleep, but you can’t stop thinking about a million things and sleep is evading you? Well, if you are experienced or have been practicing meditation, you will have learned how to use your brain’s off switch so you can get the healthy sleep you need.
And just think what this will do for your children!
Many schools have introduced meditation into their daily programming. I think it’s brilliant. What a great way to learn how to quiet the mind and enable concentration and focus. School is supposed to be about learning; creating the right environment enabling the brain to accept and able to intake that knowledge is important!
Now, some easy ways to help your kids focus, concentrate and bring those hyperactivity levels down!
Apply Essential Oils
Essential oils are known to work quickly—in just a few seconds to a few minutes. Here are some of my favorite blends to support a healthy, calm child:
#1 Calming Blend (doTERRA’s Serenity Blend). This is one that will not only calm the body but the mind as well. It is known as the oil of forgiveness. It assists with resentment, perfectionism and feelings of criticism. It promotes sleep, focus, reduced hyperactivity, forgiveness, compassion, regulating mood swings and even addresses negative emotions. It is also a reset for the body's electrical system.
#2 Grounding Blend (doTERRA’s Balance Blend). This will also calm the body, mind and irritated nervous system. It balances out moods, emotions, nervous system, neurological systems, and is helpful for fear, anger, grief and trauma. It promotes responsibility for self and one’s life, and assists when one feel scattered or disconnected.
#3 Vetiver – Also known as the oil of center and descent. Vetiver is a root oil and is therefore a powerful grounding oil. It is very helpful for the more extreme cases of: lack of focus and concentration, sleep issues, ramped up nervous system, sadness and the need to escape. It promotes being present and centered, emotionally connected and rooted in one’s life.
#4 Lavender. Lavender is well known to promote relaxation, and sleep, stress, focus and concentration and emotional balance. It is also known as the oil of communication. It will open blocked communication, fear of rejection, fear of being unheard and will promote emotional honesty.
#5 Cedarwood. Also known as the oil of community. This oil is helpful for focus and concentration. It is relaxing for the body and mind, and promotes falling asleep. It helps with the feeling of disconnect with family or being antisocial. It promotes connectedness, belonging and joyful relationships.
#6 Frankincense. AMAZING! My favorite for so many reasons! This oil crosses the blood-brain barrier (which means it gets to the brain), where it can go where pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter meds can’t! It is also known as the oil of truth. It is relaxing to the body, mind and spirit. It is well known to reduce inflammation, and by reducing inflammation in the brain, just think of all the ways that can help support your child!
This oil will address issues related to abandonment, feeling unprotected, spiritually disconnected and will promote feeling loved, protected, and a strengthened connection with your father.
#7 Sandalwood. The oil of sacred devotion. This oil also crosses the blood-brain barrier and is anti-inflammatory! This is a very calming oil! Great for emotional balance and promoting sleep. This oil will assist with over-thinking and feeling empty. It will promote humility, stillness and spiritual clarity.
#8 Adaptiv Blend. The blend of adaptability. This blend was designed for the cycles of anxious states. Prolonged states of stress and/or traumatic experiences cause one to become hyper-vigilant and unable to calm down. It teaches self-kindness, self-acceptance and allows one to recognize where they need may need a voice. Many people are having phenominal results with this blend!
There are many more, but these are my favorite because I have personally seen the most positive benefits for my children and myself.
You can apply these oils topically (diluted), on pulse points, behind ears, on your chest, wrists, and especially on the back of the neck, preferably on the occipital point. This way you are receiving the oils two-fold: aromatically as well as topically (getting into the bloodstream).
Apply these to yourselves or your children as needed. Or, if the issue is chronic, be pro-active and apply the oils 2 – 3 times per day for consistent relief. Use less or more depending on individual needs. Finally, if your child is old enough, you can make up your own pre-diluted rollerball bottle so they can apply it themselves when they feel they need it. Here’s how:
Pre-diluted Rollerball Recipe for Kids:
– glass rollerball bottle (5 mL)
– fractionated coconut oil
– 5-15 drops essential oil
Add 5-15 drops of an essential oil of your choice into the glass rollerball bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Shake and use!
Please reach out to me if you want to learn more or are in need of these AMAZING naturally calming oils! You can find all of these oils in my shop.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.