Especially with summer break coming up, parents are always looking for ways to increase attention and productivity for their kiddos. Many parents try to keep their kids actively learning during the summer months, but as we all know, summer can also be full of distractions. However, there are a number of ways we can help our kids stay focused and able to learn, including aromatherapy.
Of course, reducing clutter in the home can often aid in concentration (and eliminate distractions), but organizing your space can help, too. Since children are also using their home for many purposes (for shelter, for play, for dining and for learning), it can also be incredibly helpful to organize the home in “modules” so that each area has a designated purpose. That way when they are in the “learning area” they will be concentrated on learning.
Another, lesser known method to influence behavior and heighten attention is to use aromatherapy.
Many people choose to use essential oils in their households or even scented candles, but have you ever thought about how those scents can affect you and your family? Each aromatherapy scent has a purpose and can be used for different things. For example, the scent of lavender can calm the children and improve their emotional state. Jasmine aromatherapy can ease anxiety and orange decreases tension.
On the productivity side of things, the scent of lemon has been shown to enhance physical performance, rosemary can improve memory and cognition and cinnamon can stimulate the brain. The below visual from FragranceX covers each scent and what role they can play in a student’s experience.
And as an added bonus, they included some fun printables that kids can color while they learn about what smells they are experiencing. These fun coloring pages allow them to see what the source of the scent looks like, what letter is associated with the scent and record how they feel after smelling it.
The combination of scent and activity can really make for a fun lesson with your younger child. For older children, simply experiencing the scent of the aromatherapy will be beneficial. As always, keep an eye on your student to make sure they are not bothered by the scent or that it is not inducing an allergic reaction. It’s rare, but it does happen. Enjoy!
