Although it seems that summer has just begun, it won’t be long before the kids will be preparing to go back to school and parents will be preparing to supply them with everything they need to be comfortable, successful and happy students. Depending on the age of your children, you may be looking at crayons and safety scissors or name brand jeans and mathematical calculators.
Clothes Shopping
If you have a daughter in the teen to college range, you’ll definitely be looking at some back to school clothes shopping! “Back to school time is popular for shopping because it’s a fresh start to a whole new season and what better way to start that than by feeling great in new threads,” says Amy Zebert with Oolala! Boutique. “We are always bringing in new pieces that run parallel to what’s hot in fashion, including celebrity-inspired, Wildfox Couture and tons of the latest styles in denim such as Miss Me, Big Star, Rock Revival and more. Fabulous boots of all styles and colors and of course great handbags and accessories are also available.”
It’s likely your daughter will want to take advantage of all the new trends for Fall. Amy and the staff at Oolala! Boutique are always on style watch and some of the trends they are have been seeing for this fall would be similar to the textures and styles from the summer, including natural and earthy tones with lots of scarves to pull outfits together paired with large handbags and boots of many styles. They are seeing boots being worn with jeans, skirts and leggings for fall.
When you take your daughter shopping, you probably will also want to pick out a few new things for yourself as well! Keep in mind that shopping at local boutiques is the best choice for a number of reasons. First, you’ll be supporting your local economy by shopping local. Secondly, you’ll be working with experienced fashionistas (many times, it’s the actual owner of the store who will be helping you) who can assist you in picking out the perfect pieces for your lifestyle and personality. Finally, when you shop at boutiques that only have a limited number of styles, you can be rest assured that you and your daughter won’t be showing up to school, events or meetings in outfits that three other women in the room are wearing! It’s always good to be unique, and local boutiques can help you be unique yet still in fashion.
Health Issues
Of course, what your child wears is not as important as how he or she feels as this will have a huge impact on their school performance. One way to help assist your child in being everything they can be is to take them to a chiropractor.
“Chiropractic care, a drugless, non-surgical form of health care, seeks to maximize overall health and wellness by bridging the link of the spinal and bone structures with the various functions of the central nervous system,” states Dr. Sheri Millard with Millard Wellness Center. “When all parts of the body are working in sync with each other, the body is then able to connect with its own ability to achieve healing, the natural way. Most chiropractors will emphasize the importance of lifestyle modification, diet and exercise as keys to help create an optimal environment to allow the organs, the spine and nervous system to properly work together.”
According to Dr. Sheri Millard, Pschoneuroimmunology (an interdisciplinary field) explores the connections between the mind and emotions, the brain and central nervous system and the effect of those connections on our immune system. Various studies have revealed that chiropractic adjustments have a significantly positive impact on the central nervous system, particularly the four primary frequencies of brain function. These primary areas are; Alpha (reflection, meditation, relaxation and healing), Beta (active, busy brain), Theta (light, sleep, relaxation and conceptual development), and Delta (represents brain activity during sleep, repair mode and energy storage). After a series of chiropractic adjustments, EEG (electroencephalogram) scans showed improvement in all areas of brain function. There were notably high increases in the meditative alpha brain wave patterns. These are most associated with greater levels of health, healing and relaxation. Consistent research is proving that chiropractic care positively impacts brain function on levels exceeding simple pain relief.
Children and students of all ages can benefit from the enhanced focus chiropractic brings as a result of un-blocking pinched nerves which can cut off vital blood flow to organs including the brain. Studies of children undergoing chiropractic treatments have revealed great strides with behavioral and motor skill improvements, learning and social development. A 7-year old boy, diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder, retarded structural growth, stuttering, and was deemed a slow learner received a full spinal exam, x-rays, chiropractic examination revealing subluxation (misalignment) in five places along the spine. One of his legs was longer than the other. Within eight chiropractic adjustments, the legs naturally re-balanced for the first time. Also after the 8th visit, his stuttering ceased, his school grades went from un-satisfactory to satisfactory, his limp was no longer prevalent, and the hyperactivity was significantly restrained. Another study with children and chiropractic care indicated improved IQ performance points, along with better auditory and short-term memory skills, visual perception and motor skills. Parents shared observations of improvements in their children’s motivation, behavioral performance and attitudes. Teachers noticed dyslexia assistance was no longer needed, thumb sucking was curtailed and symptoms of asthma were lessened.
Chiropractic also has an amazing effect on athletic ability. After six weeks of testing with chiropractic and non-chiropractic groups, the athletes who received chiropractic care improved significantly in all tests administered to include enhanced agility, power, kinesthetic perception, reaction time, and balance when compared to those that did not receive chiropractic adjustments. The chiropractic groups also showed improvements in capillary count at just five and 14 weeks of chiropractic care. Because healthy oxygenation of tissue and fluids in the body are dependent upon blood supply, the physiological impacts of chiropractic adjustments may be among the most influential results of this form of health care. When compared with other treatments (pharmacological, surgical, etc.) during a 2-year time period, a study of over 17,000 chiropractic patients in Italy revealed that regular chiropractic treatments could lead to a reduction in hospitalizations by 87.6%! The results of the same 17,000 participants also indicated that chiropractic care could lead to a 55-75% reduction in the amount of absences from the workplace.
“Due to the rehabilitative, preventive and curative effects, chiropractic improves our quality of life as much as it impacts the functionality of our brain and works to improve performance at all levels,” concludes Dr. Sheri Millard. “Improvements in brain function and mood allow us to better focus on the task at hand with less interference. Being able to function with all parts of our body working together allows us to achieve our best health. When heading back to school, work, or practice in whatever discipline we are part of, remember to include chiropractic to achieve the best of you.”
Help prepare your child for back to school with a new wardrobe and perhaps a new sense of health and well-being to help them succeed.