As summer winds down and school looms on the horizon, it’s not just backpacks and lunchboxes that need prepping — your child’s nervous system does too.
If your little one is suddenly more irritable, clingy, restless, or emotional, that’s not a coincidence. Transitions (even exciting ones) are one of the biggest stressors on the developing nervous system.
This month, we tapped our functional health friends at Beckon Prosperity — a Bergen-based holistic practice known for solving tricky kid symptoms — to share gentle, science-backed ways to help your child feel more calm, grounded, and emotionally resilient this season.
1. Start the Day with Stability (Not Sugar)
The way your child starts their day sets the tone for their nervous system. A breakfast high in sugarand low in protein can spike cortisol and cause a crash before the first bell even rings — leading to emotional swings, fatigue, and poor focus.
What helps:
- Build breakfast around protein + healthy fat (eggs, nut butter, turkey sausage).
- Skip the juice and sugary cereals (even the organic ones).
- Add adaptogens like ashwagandha or rhodiola (in kid-friendly blends) to support calm focus and cortisol balance.
2. Support the Vagus Nerve — Quietly
The vagus nerve is like the body’s “calm switch.” It helps regulate digestion, heart rate, and emotional control — and it thrives on sensory input. While weighted stuffed animals are great at home, they’re not always school-friendly.
Instead, try:
- Teaching your child to hum or sing softly during transitions or while working — both stimulate the vagus nerve and help regulate without drawing attention.
- Use warm compresses at home (on the belly or shoulders) to reinforce safety signals.
- Practice slow, paced breathing — in through the nose, out through pursed lips.
3. Strengthen the Gut-Brain Connection
Most of the body’s calming neurotransmitters (like GABA and serotonin) are made in the gut. If your child is anxious, moody, or having sleep trouble, gut support may be key — without needing fermented foods.
Simple swaps:
- Consider a high-quality digestive enzyme to support meal breakdown.
- Sip cool peppermint tea or keep diluted peppermint essential oil on hand for belly soothing.
- Watch for common gut irritants like artificial dyes, additives, and too much dairy or sugar.
4. Turn Downtime into Regulation Time
Overscheduled afternoons can push kids into overwhelm. Creating space for unstructured, screen-free time helps their nervous system reset.
Ideas:
- Take a barefoot walk outdoors — even five minutes counts.
- Create a calm-down corner with fidget tools, cozy lighting, and quiet play options.
- Use gentle herbal support like lemon balm or passionflower when needed to ease the transition from “on” to “rest.”
5. Make Bedtime a Nervous System Ritual
When kids don’t sleep well, they don’t regulate well — and vice versa. A consistent, screen-free bedtime routine strengthens the nervous system and supports everything from behavior to immunity.
What works:
- Dim lights an hour before bed and switch to low-stim activities like books or puzzles.
- Offer a nightly herbal blend (like lemon balm + magnesium) to support melatonin production and nervous system repair.
- Keep bedtime predictable — same time, same steps, every night.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’re seeing signs of nervous system dysregulation — meltdowns, bellyaches, sensory overload, or trouble sleeping — these tips are a great place to start.
But sometimes, you need a trusted partner to help you figure out what’s really going on.
That’s where Beckon Prosperity comes in. Their whole-child approach helps families uncover the root of chronic symptoms — from anxiety and gut issues to sensory sensitivities and behavior shifts — using natural tools, custom labs, and a deeply supportive framework.
Learn more: Beckon Prosperity
Book a free clarity call: Work with Beckon
