As much as we hate to think about it, school is just around the corner. It’s time for back-to-school shopping, supply lists, homework, and more germs! You may be worrying about the kid who sits next to them that sneezes all over their shared desk, the kid borrowing a pencil who didn’t wash their hands after the bathroom, playing with a ball at recess that hundreds of other kids have touched. You shudder at the thought! And heading back to school often goes hand and hand with more possible illness. In order to make it a little less stressful, there is one tip that can help you have healthier and happier kids: chiropractic care!

Chiropractic care for children can keep them healthy as we all know that a properly functioning nervous system is key for your kids’ development and overall health. In order to stay healthy, the spine should be regularly adjusted and nerve interference removed from the body to function properly, and to grow and thrive. If a child’s immune system is not functioning properly – catching colds, getting ear infections, etc.—can become a recurring problem. We don’t treat the ear infection; we treat the underlying problem. When the central nervous system is in good health, other parts of the body are in good health as well. This includes the immune system. As the spine gets healthy, so does the immune system, and therefore, you child may see a decrease in some of the illnesses experienced by a typical child.

Not only can Chiropractic care aid with your child’s overall health and wellness, there are a host of other benefits to getting your wee little one adjusted:

Normalize Sleep Patterns
Lessen the effects of allergies
Enhance Physical Performance and coordination
Optimize Learning & Sensory Integration
Colic & Irritability
Acid Reflux (GERD)
Constipation & Digestion
ADD & ADHD
Feeding & Inability to Latch
Autism/Sensory Spectrum Issues

Along with Chiropractic Care, there are other things to remember to help keep your child in good health.

Be sure to make sure your child is well hydrated! There is proof that a dehydrated body will exhibit symptoms of poor concentration, headaches, constipation and lethargy. For kids who may not like water, try adding sliced fruits to add flavor. Maybe try some coconut water, which is rich in naturally occurring electrolytes for the body.

Get kids to bed at a decent hour! Their brains and bodies need extra rest to recover and regenerate properly. Not to mention the rapid growth happening in school aged kids and retaining all that amazing information they’re learning!

Feed their brains nutritious, colorful, healthy foods. Try to incorporate a wide variety of foods: textures, fats, proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits! (Mostly homemade with minimal processing is best!

Supplement when needed. Most kids can benefit from a quality multi-vitamin, probiotic, and fish oil.

Minimize screen time to give their eyes and brain a break!

Stay active! Getting fresh air, playing outside, playing sports, or taking a walk are great ways to get kids away from the TV or computer and up and moving.

Combat school stress. Whether it’s homework or a test, sports and other activities, or just the social aspect of school, stressors negatively impact your child’s mind and body. This leads to higher levels of cortisol, which can negatively affect your child’s immune system by inhibiting it. If your child has a subluxation, or a slight misalignment in their spine that puts pressure on their nerves or spinal cord, this produces more cortisol. With cortisol levels increasing from an untreated subluxation, your child is already more prone to stress. So, when that big test rolls around that they’re already somewhat stressed about, their stress levels are going to increase exponentially due to the amount of cortisol already in their system. If the subluxation is improved by chiropractic care, cortisol levels drop, and your child overall feels less stressed.

Chiropractic care can definitely boost your immune system, it’s been a well-known and proven fact for years and years. But people still don’t realize just how much regular chiropractic care can improve a child’s life. Contact us to get yourself and children scheduled for an evaluation to assess the nervous system or for your next adjustment!

Have a healthy and successful school year!