Chiropractic Care for Your School-aged Child

Growing, active brains need a great connection with their body to thrive in the emotional and academic experiences of school, sports, and social life.

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Primary school is a transformative period in a child’s life, marked by rapid growth and the development of essential skills. Between the ages of 5 and 12, children experience significant changes in their bodies and minds. Physically, their bones are growing quickly, their muscles are strengthening, and their coordination is improving. At the same time, they are honing critical cognitive and social skills, such as focus, problem-solving, and teamwork.

These years are also when children begin to face new physical challenges, like carrying heavy school bags, sitting for long periods in classrooms, and engaging in sports or playground activities. These factors can place stress on their developing bodies, particularly on the spine and nervous system, which play vital roles in their overall health and well-being.

After School Appointments

We offer extra appointment times before and after school as well as Saturdays, so finding time for your family's adjustments can work with their busy schedule. Our team provide extensive collaborative care to ensure you can have the times that work best for you.

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Built For Families

Do you have more than one child and need to bring them along? They are most welcome! Our huge open play area has swings, a climbing rope, building furniture, toys and books. Our incredible team will help toddlers and older children stay occupied with crafts and colouring they can enjoy.

Learn and Grow with ACCC

We offer a number of educational workshops to help better understand and support your child and teen. Our Primitive Reflexes Workshop offers a great introduction to brain development and ways to support emotional and academic development through movement-based activities.

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Your Child's Growing Brain

The Nervous System's Role

Your child’s nervous system is essential for their learning and development. When the brain and body are working in sync, it helps them learn, remember, and master new skills. Just like a building needs a strong foundation, your child’s brain needs a healthy nervous system to develop properly (2).

When everything is balanced, your child can absorb and process information more easily, helping them grow with confidence. But when stress or dysfunction occurs, it can affect their ability to learn, sleep, or manage emotions (3).

Every child is different, so it’s important to notice signs like difficulty focusing, sleep problems, or feeling upset often (1).

By supporting your child’s nervous system with a calm, supportive environment and gentle activities, you help them build the foundation for healthy growth and learning (2,3).

The Connection between Posture and Concentration

Did you know that your child’s posture plays a crucial role in their ability to focus, process information, and thrive in school? Research shows that poor posture can impact cognitive function, attention span, and even emotional well-being (5).

Many children today spend long hours sitting at desks, carrying heavy backpacks, or looking down at screens—all of which can lead to poor posture. Over time, this can become a habit that affects not only their spine but also their ability to concentrate in class (6).

For some kids, maintaining good posture is challenging because their core muscles haven’t fully developed the strength needed to support their growing bodies. This can make everyday school activities—like sitting still, writing, or paying attention—more exhausting than they should be (7).

At Australian Children's Chiropractic centre we carefully assess your child's posture as a key indicator of muscle tone, brain function, and overall development. Through gentle chiropractic care and fun, easy-to-follow home exercises, we help kids build strong, healthy posture habits that support their learning, growth, and well-being.

By working together with families, we create simple, engaging activities that complement in-clinic care—helping school-aged children feel their best and stay focused in the classroom!

Common Signs Of Posture & Nervous System Imbalance

Challenges sitting in classroom on floor or chairs

Emotional exhaustion at end of day, from fatiguing

Issues with balance and coordination, as poor posture can impact brain-body connection

Mismatch with holding pencils too tight, as a compensation for postural unsteadiness

Compensatory patterns like writing with tongue out, swinging legs for movement, fidgeting to cope in class

Slumping, struggling to sit up straight, for some kids back pain, neck pain or even headaches

Learning Skills Takes Connectivity

For children to truly thrive in their learning journey, their brain and body need to work in harmony. Everyday skills like writing, reading, and problem-solving depend on a well-connected nervous system, where messages between the brain and body flow back and forth. Strong physical development supports balance, posture, and fine motor skills—all essential for success in the classroom.

But learning isn’t just about academics—it’s also about feeling safe, supported, and connected. When children are emotionally secure and socially engaged, they’re more open to exploring, asking questions, and growing with confidence. By nurturing both their physical and emotional well-being, we lay the foundation for happy, curious, and capable learners who are ready to take on the world.

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References

1. National Research Council, Institute of Medicine. From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development. Washington (DC): National Academies Press; 2000. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK225562

2. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Brain Architecture. 2020. Available from: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/brain-architecture/

3. National Institutes of Health. Effects of Stress on the Developing Brain. Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:299. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3574783/

4. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Toxic Stress. Available from: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/toxic-stress/

5. Smith JA, Brown LM. The Impact of Posture on Cognitive Function in School-Aged Children. J Pediatr Health. 2021;15(3):123-130.

6. Johnson RT, Lee SY. Posture and Academic Performance: The Effects of Classroom Ergonomics. Int J Educ Res. 2020;45(2):87-95.

7. Davis PL, et al. Core Muscle Strength and Postural Control in Elementary School Children. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2019;31(4):289-295.

Chiropractic Care for Your School-aged Child

Success at school starts with a healthy nervous system

We're here for the whole family

After School Appointments

Built For Families

Learn and Grow with ACCC

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We can't wait to meet you both!