Setting Up for School Success: Naturopathic Tips for Children and Teens
As the new school year approaches, parents and caregivers often find themselves navigating the excitement and challenges of preparing their child/children for success both in and out of the classroom. Prioritising your child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being lays the foundation for a thriving school year. From nutrition and sleep to managing stress and supporting their gut health, there are simple yet effective naturopathic strategies that can help your children feel energised, focused, and ready to take on the year ahead.
1. Nutrition for Energy and Focus
What your child eats can significantly impact their energy levels, focus, and overall health. A balanced diet ensures their body and brain are ready for learning and play. Here are some practical tips:
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Start the Day Right: Breakfast is essential for sustained energy. Consider nutrient-rich options like overnight oats with fresh fruit, wholegrain toast with avocado, or a smoothie packed with spinach, berries, and a scoop of protein powder.
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Nut-Free Lunchboxes: Many schools have nut-free policies, so try options like veggie sticks with hummus, wraps with shredded chicken and salad, or seed-based snack bars.
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Hydration Matters: Encourage your kids to drink water throughout the day. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
2. Building Strong Immunity
Back to school often means an increase in exposure to germs. Boosting your child’s immune system can help keep illness at bay. Summer is the perfect time to start to boost your immune system and be ready for the cooler months.
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Support Gut Health: A diverse diet with plenty of fibre-rich foods supports a healthy microbiome, which plays a significant role in immunity. Add fermented foods like yogurt or sauerkraut if tolerated.
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Immune-Boosting Supplements: Vitamin C, zinc, and elderberry syrup are great options to support the immune system naturally.
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Adequate Sleep: Quality sleep is essential for immune resilience. Aim for a consistent bedtime routine to help kids wind down.
3. Supporting Emotional Well-Being
The transition back to school can bring about feelings of anxiety or stress. Helping your child navigate these emotions is crucial for their overall well-being.
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Mindfulness and Relaxation: Teach simple breathing techniques or try mindfulness apps designed for kids. Even five minutes of deep breathing can create calm.
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Evening Routines: A predictable bedtime routine that includes reading or listening to calming music can help ease anxious thoughts.
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Emotions and Metaphysical Kinesiology (EMK): EMK is a gentle yet powerful way to address emotional imbalances and stress. Book a session to help your child feel more centered and at ease.
4. Nurturing Their Nervous System
School life can be stimulating and sometimes overwhelming. Supporting the nervous system ensures your child stays grounded and calm.
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Magnesium-Rich Foods: Include leafy greens, bananas, and seeds in their diet to naturally support relaxation.
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Grounding Activities: Encourage screen-free time by being outdoors, walking barefoot on grass, or engaging in creative play.
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Reiki and Energy Healing: Gentle techniques like Reiki can help restore balance and calm their nervous system. These are particularly beneficial for children who experience heightened stress or sensitivity.
5. Physical Activity for a Healthy Body and Mind
Regular movement is not just vital for physical health but also for mental clarity and emotional well-being.
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Make it Fun: Choose activities they enjoy, whether it’s bike riding, swimming, or playing a team sport.
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Incorporate Movement at Home: Stretching or yoga before and after school can improve flexibility and relaxation.
6. Back-to-School Naturopathic Check-Up
The start of the school year is an excellent time to address any lingering health issues or set a proactive health plan for the months ahead. Common concerns like digestive health, restlessness, menstrual health (periods), skin problems - acne, eczema, dermatitis, low energy, or anxiety can all be supported with naturopathic care.
Flower Essence Therapy
Flower Essence Therapy is a gentle yet powerful approach to supporting children’s emotional and mental well-being. These natural remedies work on an energetic level, helping to balance emotions and ease common challenges such as anxiety, fear, overwhelm, or difficulty adapting to new situations.
Children often respond quickly to the vibrational healing properties of flower essences, as they are naturally attuned to subtle energy shifts. Whether it’s building confidence, managing stress, improving focus, or fostering a sense of calm, flower essences provide a safe and nurturing way to support your child’s emotional health.
This therapy complements other naturopathic treatments beautifully, creating a holistic path to balance and resilience for your little one.
Microbiome Stool Testing
For children experiencing specific digestive concerns such as constipation, parasites, or fungal overgrowth, I offer Microbiome Stool Testing. This comprehensive test provides insight into gut health and helps uncover the root causes of issues impacting digestion, mood, and skin health.
Food Sensitivities
Does your child suffer from food sensitivities and you're not sure what foods or products are contributing to these health problems? Have you tried cutting out the main culprits such as gluten, dairy and eggs? Food Fit Compatibility Testing has been a game changer for my patients and their families for over the past 7 years. This simple hair test shows what foods and products they can have and what they will need to avoid for a minimum of 6 months - after that we can retest and see what can come back into their diet and environment. There are over 900 foods and products tested and this includes the supermarket brands as well. This test makes life so much easier when your child is attending day care, school, high school or starting at TAFE or university.
Essential Oils for Kids: Gentle Support for Well-Being
Essential oils can provide safe, natural support for children’s physical and emotional health when used correctly. I use quality essential oils in clinic and I'm a doTERRA wellness advocate as I regularly use essential oils in clinic and prescribe them as specific blends for your child to use.
Please note, the cheaper the oil the more chemicals and synthetic additives are used. These can be extremely toxic not only to your child or other family members but also your pets.
Quality essential oils have soothing, balancing properties make them an excellent addition to your family’s wellness routine. Here are some key uses for children:
- Calm and Relaxation: Lavender and chamomile essential oils are ideal for reducing stress and promoting restful sleep. Add a drop to a diffuser or mix with a carrier oil for a calming bedtime massage.
- Focus and Concentration: Oils like rosemary and lemon can help improve mental clarity and focus, perfect for study or homework time.
- Immune Support: Tea tree and eucalyptus oils have natural antimicrobial properties. Use them in a room diffuser during colder months to support respiratory health.
- Soothing Tummies: Ginger or peppermint oil (well-diluted) can help ease mild digestive discomfort when massaged gently onto the abdomen.

Let’s Get Your Kids Ready for Their Best Year Yet!
As a naturopath who loves working with children and teenagers', I’m here to support your family every step of the way. From personalised nutritional advice to emotional and nervous system support, we can create a plan to help your child thrive.
I've created a new Kids Kineasy Treatment that is now available in clinic that supports your child's wellbeing. This gentle, nurturing session focuses on balancing the central nervous system (CNS), helping to ease stress, improve focus, and enhance emotional resilience. Designed especially for children, this treatment integrates kinesiology techniques to restore calm balance and vitality.
Perfect for kids navigating school challenges, anxiety, sleep issues, low energy, restlessness, poor concentration or feeling overwhelmed.
Book your child's appointment today and set your child up for a healthy, happy, and successful school year!
Let’s make this school year their healthiest one yet!
Yours in health and wellness,
Katrina