6 Ways to Reduce Kids’ Stress
Our modern world is a mixed bag. On one hand, our civilization has offered us access to knowledge and convenience unparalleled by any point in time of human history. While on the other, it has fueled a lot of diseases that made our existence pretty toxic. Stress and anxiety has become the by-product of our modern world and our children are not spared from the suffering. In fact, children have worries and face stressful situations at a certain degree especially when they confront challenges and scenarios in school or at play. The only way to get even with stress in children is to have a nice balance and root out the cause of anxiety and stress. If you want your children to live calmer lives, then read on to find out how you can help them.
Recognize kids’ stress
Knowing that kids can suffer from stress is the first step in the intervention. Stress can happen in situations that adults may not find stressful. Therefore, stress can be generated differently and it is important as a parent to recognize the tell-tale signs in order to help reduce stress. When you are trying to understand stress on your children take a look at physical signs such as bedwetting, nightmares and getting more anxious. When a child has a sudden shift in behavior, this could also be a sign that he or she is under stress.
Encourage expression of feelings
You can help your children cope with stress when you are able to encourage them to express how they feel that leads to better coping mechanisms. Coping methods will work if children are able to identify the source of their stress. Train your children to be open when there are things that are making them sad, depressed or anxious since this could open up the flood gates in reducing stress.
Get into the root cause
When children are showing signs of being stressed out, do not remedy the situation in the hope that the real reason will melt away. You may need to dig deeper and find out what is causing the stress and anxiety. Address the cause of stress itself and not just correct the situation that is causing undue stress to your children. If your child has become an irascible person, try to understand why he or she has become one instead of being harsh.
Be clear and reduce stressors
Identify the known stressors that are likely to cause stress to your children. Thus, you can identify what are those things that are making them anxious. If you are able to reduce the stressors, half of the work is done. Lay out the foundation of your policies so that your child will not feel a lot of pressure. One of the greatest stressors is pushing your child too hard to perform at school. Take some time to assess the capabilities of your child and think if he has the capacity to deliver what you are asking of them rather than pushing them towards things that they have no special capabilities.
Create a positive environment
Create a positive environment which starts at home. Never let your children see anger to tangle with home life. This could create instability and an unnecessary stressor that could only lead to disaster. Encourage your children to strike a balance between study and play and let them enjoy themselves once in a while.
Encourage lots of physical activities
If your child would rather play with video games instead of doing some physical activities, then you are rearing a potential time bomb. Allow them to shoot some hoops, play catch or even swim at the public pool to allow tension to dissipate. When there is more movement, there is less possibility that they will be suffering from stress.
Stress can happen even to your children. The rules may not be the same to your children but the impact is familiar. Never let stress ruin the formative and growing up years of your children. You owe it to them as a responsible parent to give them a happy and fun childhood that will become the foundation for the rest of their lives.
Originally posted 2013-04-18 12:41:28.