Our children will be heading back to school in a few days and an entire system will have to readjust. Indeed, during the summer break, children tend to go to bed later but also to get up later (for some), to munch a little more on screens, to rest more often and to have a less sustained rhythm. Children who have spent their vacations at camp or in internships will also see their rhythm change for the start of the school year.

At school, children will be expected to sit for an average of 5-6 hours without moving or gesticulating. At the same time, the exercises proposed in class will mobilize all their attention and concentration. A new rhythm will be imposed on them with new constraints, new teachers, new classmates and apprehension of this newness can bring some stress. Depending on the school and the age of your children, these school constraints will be different and evolving, but nevertheless remain alert to the needs of your children to allow them a smoother and more harmonious return to school.

Some tips to make this back-to-school season more zen:

• I encourage my child to extend their sleep time by going to bed earlier, little by little as the days go by. This will ensure that he or she does not experience a big time leveling on the first day of school.
• I mandate fewer screens to encourage more creative activities. Depending on the age of your child, choose an activity that meets his or her real needs.
• I'm gradually decreasing refined sugars of his diet: We exchange sweet snacks for seasonal fruits or crudités to crunch. And why not healthier alternatives like homemade pastries without refined sugar and saturated fat.

For example, make energy balls by mixing dates (organic and glucose sugar free), oatmeal and oilseeds (walnuts, almonds, cashews). When the dough has a "plasticine" texture, form it into walnut-sized balls and leave it in the fridge for a few hours. This type of healthy snack is sure to excite your kids' taste buds.

• Along the same lines, I suggest water to drink and not sodas or grenadines that do not allow for metabolic rest. These overly sweet drinks really stress the bodies and especially the brains of our children. Accustom taste buds to pure, healthy water for their growth and development.
• I reassure my child if he or she is worried about the start of school. I can also suggest Bach flowers adapted to his needs if I find him too nervous or anxious.
• I offer him new breakfasts that will keep him in shape all year long. To do this, I opt for protein-rich mornings because protein provides the energy a child needs to focus all morning. So I avoid mornings with too much sugar. Therefore, I avoid offering sweetened cereals with cow's milk or white bread with chocolate spread. These morning meals are time bombs for our children.
• Along the same lines, I avoid orange juice on an empty stomach. Indeed, in order not to raise blood sugar levels, I opt for a green juice (with a higher proportion of vegetables than fruit) or a smoothie (the preservation of fiber allows for better assimilation of blood sugar levels).
• I invite my child to prepare, with me, for the start of the school year by preparing his or her school materials. The investment and responsibility of the child is important from the earliest age.

We wish all the children a wonderful start to the school year full of learning, development and friendship. May this year be a good one.