As the time for final exams and TCAP nears, many kids are experiencing stress. We asked Ginger Joe, Ed.D., a teacher with our Child Life department, to weigh in on the topic of stress in kids. Stress isn’t always a bad thing, she says.

Stress is your body’s physical and emotional reaction to circumstances that frighten, irritate, confuse, endanger or excite us. Stress can be positive or negative. A normal amount of stress pushes you to complete a task or do something. For me it’s putting in that last half mile sprint in my 6-mile runs, for example. Negative stress and too much pressure get in the way.

No one is immune to stress; we are all living in stressful times. Everyone, including kids, feels stress sometimes. In preschoolers, separation from parents can cause anxiety. As kids get older, academic and social pressures (especially from trying to fit in) create stress. Because stress in children is often seen as an overt behavior, don't expect your youngster to tell you she feels over-stressed. Instead, you need to look for signs. Some of the most common symptoms of stress overload might include:

• Chronic stomachache
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained irritability 
• Regressing to baby-like behavior
• Bouts of crying
• Teeth grinding
• Change in personality
• Bedwetting

Do take caution to rule out any medical issues associated with any of these symptoms. A chronic stomachache, for example, could be a legitimate medical condition. Likewise, teeth grinding could be a dental issue. As a parent, part of your job is to observe your child closely and keep channels of communication open. You may not be able to prevent your kids from feeling frustrated, sad or angry, but you can provide the tools they need to cope with these emotions. To help your child’s stress, parents can:

• Acknowledge their feelings in a supportive manner
• Just be there for them
• Be patient and understanding 
• Promote a positive environment at home

Do not let stress put you in distress. We just have to find our own ways to adapt, change and find methods to turn that bad stress into good stress.

Though homework can be frustrating for both kids and parents, there are a few practical ways to save your sanity and keep peace at home. Ginger Joe, Ed.D., Ed.S., M.Ed., a teacher with Le Bonheur’s Child Life team, offers some tips for developing an effective homework routine below.

Homework: the well-known subject that comes up when children get home from school.  Even our tone of voice seems to drop an octave when we say, “homework.” But homework does reinforce learning. It is known that homework gives students opportunities to practice, review and apply knowledge they learned in class.

Here are some tips for making homework easier for the family:

Show you think education and homework are important. Children are more eager to do homework if they know their parents care that it gets done.Set a regular time for homework. Remember, the best time is one that works for your child and your family. 

Pick a place to study that is fairly quiet and has lots of light.

Have supplies ready for your child so that you’re not frantically searching for them when homework time begins.

Set a good example by reading and writing yourself. Your child learns what things are important by watching what you do. Encourage educational activities. Go on walks in the neighborhood, trips to the zoo and encourage chores that teach responsibility.

Read with your child from a young age. This activity stimulates interest in reading and language and lays the foundation for your child's becoming a lifelong reader.

Take your child to the library and encourage him to check out materials needed for homework. Talk about school and learning activities. Attend school activities, such as parent-teacher meetings and sports events.

Encourage your child to take notes concerning homework assignments in case questions arise later at home. Use a homework planner where you can both track homework assignments and better plan for family events or traveling. Most schools—even elementary—have homework hotlines for parents to call and inquire about homework assignments.

Check on your child's work. How closely you watch over homework will depend on the age of your child, how independent he is and how well he does in school.

Provide guidance. Do not do the assignment yourself. It's not your homework--it's your child's. You should, however, offer guidance. Figure out how your child learns best. Knowing this makes it easier for you to help your child. For example, if your child is a visual learner, draw a picture or a chart to help with some assignments.

We all know that reading is important, but during the summertime, it’s often the last thing kids want to do. How can you as a parent encourage your child to be a summer reader? Ginger Joe, M.Ed., Ed.S., Ed.D., a teacher on Le Bonheur’s Child Life team, offers some suggestions.

“Everything around us involves reading. There's reading for survival as you're driving on the streets, reading menus to order your meals, reading your e-mails, Facebook, Twitter and even texting,” said Joe.

But reading can be fun, too, especially when you find a good book that takes you into another world. Most kids like to be adventurous – and what better, safe way than a good book, says Joe.

Joe says parents can make reading fun by taking kids to their local library. Check there for summer reading books or programs. Some libraries offer a summer reading list with incentives for finishing a book. Search websites on the library computer for your child’s favorite authors and topics. If he loves bugs, find a book all about his favorite insects.

Parents can also make reading a game, says Joe. Start a challenge amongst your family and have a night out to honor the reader of the most books within a designated length of time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also offers some reading-related tips, such as the following:

• Repetition is good — it helps a child build important language skills.
• Reading doesn’t have to be a huge project. Just a 3-minute story every night before bed will help get your child interested in reading.
• Little ones can learn to love books, too. Board books and soft books are good for infants to get used to holding a book in their hands — and enjoying the experience.
• It’s important for parents to set a good example, too.

“I strongly believe that when kids see their parents enjoying and talking about a good book, they will be willing to read more as well,” said Joe.