The first quarter of the school year is already behind us… and we are moving to getting ready for winter, with our clocks changing this weekend. Time does fly.

Note, on Saturday night November 4th, our clocks FALL BACK an hour.

With the changes in nature on the outside, our bodies have to adjust on the INSIDE. Our kids do sense these changes, and it is important that we acknowledge and help ourselves and our kids in this period of transition. When we move our clocks, we are resetting our 24-hour natural cycle, or circadian rhythm. Our internal clock becomes out of sync with the day-night cycle and our kids are actually sensitive to this. Our kids with Sensory Issues or over sensitivities are especially reactionary!

All of us are aware that the sun changes color a little, and as our daylight becomes shorter in the afternoon, we tend to get a bit more anxious. Our kids often have difficulty explaining this or even identifying emotions. They just know they “feel bad” in different parts of their body and they don’t really connect the two together. A couple of suggestions are to

–  Make sure your child gets outside in the afternoon before it starts to get dark and get some extra exercise.
–  Also, over the next few days, until our clocks “fall back”, have your kids go to bed just 10-15 minutes later. This change in time affects SLEEP. We ALL know that sleep is vital to our kids’ wellbeing.

The other important issue for parents to understand is that pressure in school is increasing. The “getting to know you” and review stage is now over, and NEW MATERIAL is being taught at a rapid rate. Your kids might come home with complaints as shown below…. This might be from stress!

From: Sciatica Clinic-Stress Management and the Body’s Health

This diagram can be helpful in sorting out how our body can react to change and what “stress” will feel like.  A fun activity to do with your child is to get a large piece of paper and put it on the floor. Have your child lay down on the paper and draw around them. Have them Identify where they sometimes hurt or feel bad and what makes them feel that way. Listen to what they say, “When I have to read out loud, it hurts here.” “I had a math test, and it was hard to breathe.”

Listen and reassure your child but be vigilant. The stress is real and if your child is struggling in school, this can escalate quickly.

As part of our integrated approach, the 3D Learner Program has included The Safe and Sound Protocol® (SSP), the Interactive Metronome®, and Reflex Motor Exercises as well as goal setting for parents and students.

We have found that together with reading and math training, students are calmer and more confident.  Acknowledging and supporting that stress and anxiety are real, can make an enormous difference in a child’s school success. Parents play a pivotal role.

If we can help in any way, please call us at 561-361-7495 or set up a no-cost conversation at www.3dlearner.com/booknow . We wish you and your child an easy “time transition”.