Back to School Wellness Tips for Parents to Help Your Kids Thrive

Back to School Wellness Tips for Parents to Help Your Kids Thrive

Hello!  Here in Michigan we are getting ready to start school after Labor Day again this year, but I know many of you are already navigating a new path with virtual or in person school starting earlier.  The decisions we have had to make as parents, students, and teachers this year has certainly been a challenge, and the best we can do is what works for each of us individually.  I hope you have found a comfortable, supported solution and that your family thrives this year!

With every new school year and transition to fall, whether we have children or not, there is a tendency to re-evaluate our health and wellness.  And now, more than ever, we are compelled to think about the well-being of our family. 

Many personal care products, vitamins, and supplements are formulated with harmful chemicals and synthetics that can be very damaging to the body long term. They can cause developmental and hormonal problems, which is definitely something we all want to avoid with our precious growing children. We are all constantly learning more about optimizing our health from the inside out and doing the best we can... Maya Angelou may have said it best:  "do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." 

In this post you will learn some of my favorite routines and products to use with my kids (and myself) to keep us healthy, supported emotionally, and ready to take on the challenges of each new day.  Feel free to scroll thru to find a few great roller ball recipes including oil blends for Calming, Focus, Joy + Energy, and a Peaceful bedtime diffuser blend. 



Using Essential Oils with Kids 
 
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s discuss using essential oils with kids. They are our precious babes and we only want what’s best for them. Remember, not all essential oils are created equally. Young Living takes GREAT care to ensure you are getting the best, most pure oils, that are safe to use on and around your kiddos. We just have to take into account their smaller bodies and learning immune systems. Here are a few safety tips.
  1. When in doubt, dilute. There are no hard and fast rules about dilution so don’t stress over it. You just want to start slow since their systems are more sensitive than adults’. A good place to test out oils is on the feet. For ages 0-1, start off with 1 drop of essential oil and add 8 drops of carrier (Young Living’s V-6 oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, etc.). For ages 2-6, try 1 drop of essential oil and add 3 drops of carrier. For ages 7-11, try 1 drop of essential oil and add 1 drop of carrier. For ages 12+, use your best judgment based on the oil you choose to use. 
  2. Be cautious using “hot” oils topically. Examples of hot oils and blends include Cinnamon, Clove, Lemongrass, Oregano, Thyme, Exodus II, and Thieves. For some people, Peppermint’s cooling sensation can be too intense. These oils will need heavier dilution when applied to an area that’s more sensitive. Try them on the feet or spine to be safe. Wash your hands after applying these oils by hand; you don’t want any accidentally getting into someone’s eyes. If that ever happens, don’t worry! You can pull the essential oil out with a fatty carrier like coconut oil. 
  3. Start slow when diffusing. Start with just a few drops or less when diffusing around kids. As you see how they respond to the oils, you can increase the amount as you see fit. If you’re in a more open room, you can use more. If you diffuse in a smaller, more compact area, use less. Everyone’s body has different needs and responds to oils in his/her own unique way, so start slow. 
Don’t let all the “rules” with essential oils overwhelm you. Just get the oils on and around your kids; the oils will do their job. Lastly, involve your kids in the oil process… let them smell the oils, pick out their favorites, and whip up their own rollers and recipes. They’ll love getting to participate!


The Importance of Daily Routines & Consistency
 
It is important to note that essential oils are not designed as a one-time use kind of product. They are PART of our wellness toolbox and are best utilized by our bodies when used regularly and consistently. Most body systems take about 3 months of consistent and specific support to rejuvenate them. So use them every day; make them part of your daily routine and your kids’ routines. 
 
Tips for Using Your Oils Daily
 
  • Have your oils OUT and visible. If your oils are stored deep in a cluttered drawer they will be out of sight, out of mind. Keep them on a stand, a shelf, on a counter, wherever you will SEE them and use them.
  • Label and/or organize your oils. Group them in similar colors or organize them alphabetically. You could even set them apart based on certain health needs you have. 
  • Make rollers. Rollers provide a quick, convenient way to dilute your oils and have them ready for application whenever you or your child has a need. Plus, they fit in backpacks, purses, pockets, anywhere! And they empower your kids to use them when their body needs them. 
  • Pair your oils with other daily activities you’re already accustomed to. Set a roller by your toothbrush so you apply it every morning. Have a bottle of oil and a carafe of water sitting next to your diffuser on your bedside table so you don’t forget to diffuse at bedtime. Set rollers or sprays near the backdoor where you store your shoes or purse and use them on your way out. You can do this; get creative!
This protocol is a GREAT way to start your day... for kids and adults! Bring on the CALM and COURAGE!

Daily Wellness Ideas
 
Here are some of our families’ favorites to support our bodies daily, keeping our systems functioning above the wellness line.

Thieves Roll-On
Thieves Roll-On combines Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils and helps support your immune system.  This blend can also be diffused to open airways and disinfect the air your breathe.

Super C (chewable or tablet) 
Because our bodies cannot manufacture vitamin C, we can benefit by consuming this powerful antioxidant daily. Conveniently, this one comes in a tablet and a chewable.  Each one has their own unique amount of vitamin C - the tablet contains 1440% of the recommended dietary intake of vitamin C per serving and the chewable contains 170% DV per tablet. The ingredients in Super C play a role in normal immune and circulatory functions, help to strengthen connective tissues, and promote overall health, vitality, and longevity. Vitamin C also protects against chlorine absorption.

Super Vitamin D (new this summer to YL line-up!)
Young Living’s plant-based Super Vitamin D is highly absorbable, vegan friendly, and completely synthetic free. It comes in a dissolvable tablet with a kid-friendly mixed-berry flavor. This source of vitamin D helps support bone growth, healthy muscle, mood and hormone regulation. It also plays a key function in respiratory health, and through its innate and adaptive defense mechanisms, supports the body’s respiratory immune system. Most humans NEED extra Vit D3 in their systems!!

Oils 
Essential oils can play a HUGE role in supporting our bodies when used regularly. Apply them or diffuse them while you get ready in the mornings and during your bedtime routine. You can even send rollers to “school” or apply oils to a diffuser bracelet or fidget spinner. If you’re doing school at home, have oils at the ready to apply or diffuse while the kids work. Thieves, Lemon, Frankincense, ImmuPower, Longevity, GeneYus, Oregano - these are all great ones to be using daily. Some of these come in Vitality versions too so they can be taken internally in veggie capsules, mixed in drinks or smoothies, or added to food. 
These are just a FEW items you can be using daily. There are MANY more you can start to incorporate based on your family’s needs so let’s walk through some examples for the morning, day, and night. 


Morning Must-Haves

Now that your children are rested, you can get the morning off to the best start with nutrition and complete body support.

Start them off with a nutritious breakfast.
Young Living provides great breakfast options using Einkorn flour like Einkorn Flakes Cereal, Einkorn Granola, and Einkorn Pancakes or waffles. They even offer a gluten-free Pancake mix!

Einkorn is an ancient grain that has higher levels of protein, trace minerals, and lower gluten levels than hybridized, modern wheat.   


Add in a Pre/Probiotic.
Kidscents MightyPro - Pre/Probiotics that taste like candy and do their job in supporting a healthy gut.
Gut health is important for healthy emotions and the ability to absorb nutrients.  Many adults take this supplement if they have difficulty swallowing pills (or because they love the taste). Just ingest 2 packets get the same number of cultures as the Life 9 adult probiotic. 


Give them their vitamins - MightyVites! 
Are you worried that your kids aren’t eating enough veggies? We have you covered. Young Living vitamins are formulated without the dyes and synthetic ingredients found in your typical kid vitamin. 
Kidscents MightyVites chewables benefit from Orgen-kids®, a nutrient-dense, food-based superfruit, plant, and vegetable complex. Free of preservatives and artificial colors and flavors, these delicious, berry-flavored chewables give your children full nutritional support.
 
MightyZyme chewables contain enzymes that naturally occur in the body to support and assist the digestive needs of growing bodies and the normal digestion of foods.
  • Use these chewables for relief of occasional symptoms including fullness, pressure, bloating, stuffed feeling (commonly referred to as gas), pain and/or minor cramping that may occur after eating.
Multigreens is a capsule, full of super greens including spiralina, kelp and chlorella that can be opened to add to yogurt, juice or a smoothie to get the anti-oxidant and health benefits from greens.

NingXia Red is packed with superfoods to support overall wellness. This antioxidant-packed drink supports energy levels, normal cellular function, and whole-body and normal eye health. A daily shot of 1-2 ounces helps support overall wellness with powerful antioxidants.  My kids LOVE THIS, especially with a drop of Lemon or Lime eo added. 


Stay Calm

Now that your kids are rested, have the best nutrition in their bellies, and are armed with their wellness roll-on, it’s time to support their emotions during and after school.

School can be a rough time for everyone. It is filled with excitement and anxiety. The best way to combat stress quickly is to use essential oils. Remember that when you inhale essential oils, the tiny molecules go deep into the brain, straight to the places that help you manage your emotions.
 
One of my favorite mom tricks is to apply your child's favorite calming oil to a diffuser bracelet. The lava rocks absorb the oil so your kids can smell it throughout the day. Apply 1-2 drops just before school.


STAY CALM ROLLER BALL RECIPE

Combine these essential oils in a 10 ml bottle with a roll-on top 
  • 10 drops of Orange
  • 10 drops of Lavender                                               
  • 10 drops of Peace & Calming
  • Top the bottle off with YL V6 carrier oil and apply to your wrists as often as needed

If you are new to oils and aren’t sure which ones to try first, here are a few favorites that are very effective in calming nerves. 

Oils in the Premium Starter Kit to calm nerves and alleviate stress
- Lavender
- Stress Away
- Frankincense
- Valor gives a boost of confidence
- Peace & Calming is relaxing and calming
 
Oils outside the PSK that are GAME CHANGERS
- Vetiver is calming and stop the brain from spinning out of control
- Check out the Great Day Protocol above for a daily way to calm your nervous system.


Get Focused
 
Whether it’s during school or after, kids are always learning new concepts and need to be able to focus on tasks. 

Teach your kids how to use the Focus Roll-On recipe on their neck and wrists and to inhale when they need help focusing.

If your school does not allow your child to keep essential oils roll-ons in their backpack or at their desk, you can try two alternatives. 

1) Have the school nurse hold on to the roll-on. Your children can go see her when they need to apply the Focus Roll-On. 
2) Apply one drop of each oil to their diffuser bracelet before they leave for school. Instruct them to smell the bracelet before important focus times like after recess and lunch, and before tests.



FOCUS ROLLER BALL BLEND

Combine these essential oils in a 10 ml bottle with a roll-on top 
  • 10 drops of Cedarwood
  • 10 drops of Lavender                                                
  • 10 drops of Vetiver
  • Top the bottle off with YL V6 carrier oil and apply to your wrists/back of neck as often as needed.

Popular oils for focus
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Peppermint
- Cedarwood
- Vetiver
- Rosemary
- Brain Power
- GenYus
 
BONUS TIPS:
1) Play around with different oils to see which may be more effective. Every child can respond differently. 
2) Use these oils along with the “stay calm” blend for extra effect.
3) Diffuse or apply Lemon to your child’s diffuser bracelet during study time. Apply Lemon again before tests.

I have read that inhaling the scent of Lemon or Peppermint oil during a test will help to recall information they retained the last time they smelled these oils while studying.



Energize and Be Joyful!
 
Emotional ups and downs anyone?  Feeling sad, unorganized or unsettled? A drop of Joy over your heart can change your mood quickly.  
 
JOYFUL ENERGY ROLL-ON RECIPE

Combine these essential oils in a 10 ml bottle with a roll-on top 
  • 3 drops of Joy
  • 7 drops of Peppermint                                                
  • 10 drops of Lemon
  • 10 drops of Orange
  • Top the bottle off with YL V6 carrier oil and apply to your wrists as often as needed.
- JOY is a beautiful blend of ten different essential oils that helps stimulate uplifting emotions.
- ORANGE & LEMON help bring peace and happiness to mind and body.
- PEPPERMINT is stimulating & invigorating in case you need a little energy boost.


Bedtime Routine

Nothing says “get ready for school” like a good night’s rest.  Routines are important for kids because they provide quality time before bed. When you have a routine, kids are less likely to resist bedtime, and they are more likely to fall asleep fast and stay asleep through the night.

Try these four steps in your Night Time Routine. 

Step 1
Start with a bath. Baths can be a great way to calm your kids down before bedtime. 
Use the KidScents Shampoo and KidScents Bath Gel. They are free of harmful chemicals.
*KidScents Bath Gel and Shampoo contain wheat.
 
Step 2
Before putting on pajamas, lotion them up with KidScents lotion. Add a drop of Lavender and apply to feet. YL lotion is formulated with no mineral oils, no synthetic perfumes, no artificial coloring, and no toxic ingredients. Adding Lavender will make sleep even more restful. 
*KidScents Lotion contains wheat.
 
Step 3
Brush their teeth with the KidScents Slique Toothpaste.
Some popular kinds of toothpaste still contain triclosan, a harmful chemical the FDA banned from antibacterial hand soap. The Young Living KidScents product does not contain any triclosan or Flouride. It is formulated with all safe and effective ingredients. 
 
Step 4
Put 4-6 drops of SleepyIze and/or Lavender in the diffuser and turn out the lights.
Essential oils are an effective way to calm your children and help them get a restful night's sleep. 

Other favorites are the Owl Diffuser or the Desert Mist diffuser that will stay on for ten hours and includes eleven different light options.


Every product that I have discussed in this post is from Young Living. YL makes all of its products WITHOUT the use of harmful or synthetic chemicals. The essential oils used to infuse the products are PURE.

QUALITY MATTERS. 
Pure, high-quality products are more effective and create lasting results, which is exactly what every parent wants.

SEED TO SEAL
Young Living's Seed to Seal Promise is proof that YL has your best interests in mind. 
Young Living owns many farms and also has partner farms that have to abide by the same rules and regulations. 
Young Living goes above and beyond organic standards to provide natural products that work. YL farms on land without the use of pesticides, hand weeds fields, and tests its essential oils multiple times in its million-dollar labs to produce products with the purest and highest quality chemical constituents. If a batch doesn't meet these HIGH standards, YL will not bottle it up and send it to you. 
Check out more about the YL seed to seal process at www.seedtoseal.com.  
                      
I'm curious about your thoughts and would love to hear from you!  What ideas do you have on incorporating oils into your daily routine, especially when it comes to school? 
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Do you have any great morning routine hacks to share? 



How to Order…

The best way to order your skincare products is to become a Young Living member so you can get all of it at 24% off and have access to all the other membership perks like Essential Rewards. Get started by picking out your Starter Kit! You can pick from the Premium Oils Kit, the Ningxia Red Kit, the Thieves Kit, a Savvy Minerals Makeup Kit… OR you can choose the Basic Kit and add on all the skincare items you want to create a personalized kit! 

You will automatically get a LIFETIME membership with Young Living!! That means you can forever take advantage of the 24% discount! You will also have access to our private Facebook communities where we offer support, encouragement, and a place for you to ask questions! You will even have the ability to refer your friends for cash!

Click here to pick out your Starter Kit!

DISCLAIMER

➕ Information obtained here is meant for educational and informational purposes ONLY, and to motivate and empower you to make your own wellness journey based on your own research and partnership with your healthcare provider.

➕The statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.



















August Sharing the Love Newsletter with e-book attached

August Sharing the Love Newsletter with e-book attached

Happy August 1st, sweet friend!  

This month brings an end to the summer fun and for many of us, back-to-school time. This year is no doubt going to be different as some of us will participate in homeschooling for the first time, some will do remote learning online, and some will do in-person learning with new rules and requirements. There will be lots of adjusting and lots of processing of emotions. 

Try this protocol created by our Young Living Founder, D. Gary Young. It’s sure to help you conquer these new challenges! Many of you know and love this as 'The Great Day Protocol'. 



Here is the e-book for you to save for reference or print! 

 

Do you need a reminder about how to use your Starter Kit oils or some new recipes to get back to using all of that healthy goodness? This Getting Started with Essential Oils e-book will help you! Inside the guide, you’ll learn how to unleash the power of essential oils, find recipes such as Lavender linen spray, Raven shower bombs and how to make a Citronella floating candle bowl, and take your wellness to the next level. A printed copy of this guide can be found in future Premium Starter Kits, but you can check it out on Issuu today! Click this link if you want your own copy?  https://issuu.com/youngliving/docs/getting_started_with_essential_oils_printable_vers?fr=sYTI1NzEzMjE2ODg

 

Just a reminder… beginning September 1, when we are on the new shopping platform, any order in the US 100PV or more will automatically get free shipping!!!! This includes SHOP and Essential Rewards orders.

 

This program will take the place of the 100PV level promo. The last day to redeem unused shipping credits with YL GO or YL GO+ is August 15. Any unused credits left on members accounts on September 1 will be converted to product credit. 

Reach out to me personally to stay tuned on Sharing the Love for more info about this....

 


 

As we approach a time of the year where immune support will be at the forefront of our minds, it’s important to consider the quality of our gut health. Without good probiotic bacteria in our guts, all the bad things we are exposed to can wreak havoc on our bodies. It is vitally important to flood our bodies with GOOD bacteria to support our immune systems properly. Make sure that you have a high quality probiotic that is multi-strain and will colonize your gut from top to bottom.


Life 9 has NINE different strains of probiotic bacteria, each carefully selected to diversify your gut flora. It also has 17 billion live and active cultures. It helps promote healthy digestion, supports gut health, and helps maintain normal intestinal function for the overall support of a healthy immune system. Take one targeted-release capsule every night following a meal or as needed.  Greg, Ava and I take this daily. Evelyn is 7 years old and take the KidScents MightyPro (kids probiotic) which is 1/2 the dose of Life9, so also a great option for anyone who has trouble swallowing pills.


  

Monthly Young Living Promos

When your order hits one of these PV levels you will receive the corresponding products for FREE! Look at everything you get for free when you hit 400 PV! 

 


I hope you find peace in your hearts and positivity as we move forward into August and the upcoming changes for us and our kids.  It's now, more than ever, that we need to be aware of the affect of what we put ON our skin and IN our mouths to keep our immune systems strong and stay healthy.  

Please keep in touch and, as always, email or text me as questions arise.  Even if we have never spoken before, I'm happy to help you with learning more about oils, supplements, supporting our hormones or immune systems or any other concerns that may arise.