Helping Kids Cope With Stress
Posted: April 18, 2012
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 stomach ache
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained irritability
- Regressing to baby-like behavior
- Bouts of crying
- Teeth grinding
- Change in personality
- Bed wetting
Do take caution to rule out any medical issues associated with any of these symptoms. A chronic stomach ache, 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.
