“Misbehavior” at school can come in many different forms and varies based on the cause. It’s important to work together with your child’s teacher and bring a therapist and healthcare professional on board if warranted. However, there are some great herbal remedies and lifestyle changes that will also be helpful.

Fear

• What does it look like? In a school age child, fear may range from a nervous tummy to full on panic. Usually kids this age will have concrete, realistic fears. Sometimes the fear can be situational.

• Are there any simple herbal remedies? When a child requires a little extra soothing or calming, you can try a jasmine bath. You can make your own herbal bath with dried jasmine flowers or use 8 drops of prepared jasmine essential oil in the bath. Allow the child to soak and play in the water for about 20 minutes. This can be repeated as needed. If your child’s fear turns into anxiety or your child seems to have an increased frequency of fearful episodes, you can bring a behavior therapist on board.

Anxiety

• What does it look like? At school, an anxious child may struggle academically, isolate herself, or have trouble bonding with her peers. At home, she may have trouble sleeping, grind her teeth, and be irritable or aggressive. These symptoms often manifest for a short time following a traumatic event like divorce, death of a pet or loved one, or a parent going back to work. It’s also very normal for a child entering earlier grades to be anxious or have difficulty interacting with her peers for a few weeks at the beginning of the school year.

• Are there any simple herbal remedies? Valerian root tincture is great for calming an anxious, tense, or hysterical child. It can also help with anxiety-related insomnia if given at bedtime. Valerian root does not taste or smell good, so the best way to administer it to a child who cannot swallow capsules is in tincture form. The tincture will also have an intense taste, but administering quickly under the tongue and then eating a yummy snack will sneak it in. You can administer 5 drops under the tongue as needed (up to 3 times per day). If you do not notice an improvement within one month or the anxiety is so severe that it’s interfering with normal family life, schedule a visit with your pediatrician.

Hyperactivity

• What does it look like? Generally, a hyperactive child is simply more active than her peers. She may meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD or she may just be lively. This may look like day dreaming, inattentiveness, or not responding to stimuli in the same way as her peers.

• Are there any simple herbal remedies? You can use unsweetened Red Clover and Lemongrass tea. This is a cleansing and detoxifying tea that is great for kids who are sensitive to chemicals (environmental or food additives). Your child can drink a 1/2 cup of tea 3 times per day for 2 weeks, then repeat as needed. Chamomile tea is another good option since it’s a mild tranquilizer and helps with toxin excretion through the skin and digestive tract. Your child can drink a 1/2 cup of tea as needed, up to 3 times per day. You can use these teas in combination with each other. In addition, eating a diet that is as clean and real as possible can alleviate sensitive systems from a heavy toxic burden. Eating foods rich in B and C Vitamins (or supplementing if needed) can reduce hyperactivity. If you feel that your child’s hyperactivity is severe, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician.

Rage

• What does it look like? Rage is uncontrolled anger or frustration. It often occurs when a child has trouble expressing other emotions such as fear or jealousy. A child might scream uncontrollably at the top of her lungs, hold her breath til she passes out, and exhibit violent behavior towards classmates, which can all lead to difficulties bonding with peers. Some children will learn to use rage to manipulate adults and peers or receive attention.

• Are there any simple herbal remedies? Herbal remedies for rages will depend on the emotion causing the rages. The remedies listed here can potentially be used. To start, if a child is raging while she’s with mom or dad, separate her from the situation so she’s one-on-one with a parent. Clearly communicate that the behavior is not appropriate, but you love her and are there for a hug if she’s ready. Consistently communicate that expressing angering is ok and it’s good to do, and help your child to learn to verbalize when they are upset so that they do not hurt themselves or others. Once you are able to determine the cause of your child’s rages, you can administer herbal remedies as needed. Using humor as a distraction during rages is another technique that many parenting and behavior specialists recommend. If your child is raging at school or her rages seem especially intense and difficult to control, start working with a behavior therapist and keep your pediatrician in the loop. It’s a good idea to work as a team with your child’s teacher and behavior therapist to make sure she’s getting the support that she needs.

I’ll be doing a DIY post soon on herbal teas and baths, which will let you easily implement these remedies at home!

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The views expressed in this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition and should not be substituted for medical or nutritional advice.