As summer fades and the school year begins, families often experience more than just a shift in schedule — they experience a shift in their nervous systems. For kids, this can look like restlessness, difficulty sleeping, or trouble focusing in class. For parents, it might mean tension headaches, irritability, or simply feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day.
What’s happening here? The nervous system is trying to adapt. During the summer, our bodies tend to operate in a more parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state. The start of school introduces new demands, alarms, deadlines, social interactions, and academic pressure, which can pull both kids and adults into a more sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state. While this stress response is normal, staying stuck there too long can cause fatigue, mood swings, and decreased focus.
The good news is that by supporting the nervous system, families can ease this transition. Small, consistent practices and innovative tools help restore balance— moving the body back toward a parasympathetic state where calm, focus, and resilience live.
1. BrainTap
BrainTap Therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free approach that uses light and sound stimulation to guide your brain into a deeply relaxed state, known as ‘brainwave entrainment’. This therapy is designed to help your brain achieve balance, enabling you to release stress, overcome negative habits, sleep better, and achieve a higher state of focus and concentration.
Use my code “PARTNER100” for $100 off the Power Bundle or headset!
2. HeartMath
The Hearth Display calendar is a game-changer for families navigating life with ADHD, offering a clear, visual system to support structure and reduce overwhelm! Designed as a sleek, wall-mounted touchscreen, it centralizes the household’s schedule in one accessible place. It’s perfect for those who thrive with visual cues and routine. Hearth syncs with digital calendars like Google Calendar and uses color-coded events, visual reminders, and simple, kid-friendly icons to make daily planning more intuitive. For ADHD families, it helps externalize executive functioning tasks, turning chaos into calm by making plans, responsibilities, and routines easy to see, share, and follow!
3. WAVwatch
The WAVwatch helps smooth out transitions by using sound therapy to support your nervous system, helping to reduce stress and improve focus. With therapeutic sounds sent directly through the watch, you’ll feel the calming vibrations right where you need them, without the need for headphones or extra equipment. It’s a simple, effective way to stay centered and balanced, no matter how hectic the back-to-school season gets!
Use my code “drkeri” for $100 off!
4. Weighted Blankets
A weighted blanket can help both children and adults feel more comfortable in their bodies and promote better sleep by providing gentle, even pressure across the body. This sensation, often referred to as “deep touch pressure,” has a calming effect on the nervous system and is known to increase the production of serotonin and melatonin. The consistent pressure can also aid in calming hyperactivity, making it easier to relax and fall asleep.
5. Hearth Calendar
The Hearth Display calendar is a game-changer for families navigating life with ADHD, offering a clear, visual system to support structure and reduce overwhelm! Designed as a sleek, wall-mounted touchscreen, it centralizes the household’s schedule in one accessible place. It’s perfect for those who thrive with visual cues and routine. Hearth syncs with digital calendars like Google Calendar and uses color-coded events, visual reminders, and simple, kid-friendly icons to make daily planning more intuitive. For ADHD families, it helps externalize executive functioning tasks, turning chaos into calm by making plans, responsibilities, and routines easy to see, share, and follow!
6. Neurofeedback Therapy
One of the most effective long-term ways to train your nervous system for balance is neurofeedback. Neurofeedback works by teaching your brain how to self-regulate through real-time feedback, strengthening the pathways that support focus, resilience, and calm.
For children, this can mean fewer meltdowns, better sleep, and improved concentration in class. For adults, it can mean reduced overwhelm, improved emotional balance, and more mental clarity to handle daily demands.
If you are a previous patient, the start of the school year is an ideal time for a “tune-up” session. Think of it as re-energizing your neural pathways—helping your brain lock back into balance, so you and your family can begin the year feeling grounded, focused, and ready.
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About the Author
Dr. Keri Chiappino, DC DACNB BCN
Dr. Keri Chiappino offers a unique, expanded approach to alternative healthcare. With the combination of neurological, orthopedic and chiropractic care, Dr. Chiappino works to restore normal nerve function to the body, promoting optimum health and wellness. Dr. Chiappino has distinguished herself as one of 1000 doctors worldwide achieving Diplomatic status on the American Chiropractic Neurological Board (ACNB), with more than 1000 hours in Chiropractic Neurological coursework. In addition to traditional Chiropractic and Chiropractic Neurological care, Dr. Chiappino also offers BrainCore neurofeedback therapy and our Smithtown office is an authorized BrainCore neurofeedback clinic in Smithtown, NY.
