Generally, we associate words like ‘stress’, ‘anxiety’, and ‘depression’ with adults. Parents often find it hard to believe that their child can be stressed too. There are various factors that can cause stress, right from school pressure, to hormonal changes, but the good news is you can help your child cope with stress. Here is a look at the potential signs of stress, and how you can guide your child to manage his emotions and circumstances better.
Signs of stress in kids
Children show signs of stress in different ways unlike adults. For instance, you may find that your child’s eating and sleeping patterns have changed drastically. At the same time, the child may not want to meet other peers and kids, and he/she may want to avoid play time. Frequent illnesses and inability to focus could be other signs of stress. You may also find extreme reactions, and many kids often shut themselves down because the stress is too much for them to beer. The idea is to keep an eye on the kid’s behavior, so that you can find signs of change.
How to help?
Kids deal with stress in a different way, and sometimes, a few lifestyle changes are enough to encourage good behavior. Here’s how your child can do better with stress management with your help.
- Believe it or not, your child needs more sleep than you do, and you have to ensure that they sleep for at least 8 hours each day. Don’t allow homework, exams and other factors become hindrances in sleeping. Sleeping at night is more necessary than naps during the day.
- Relaxation. When we talk of relaxation¸ we are not talking of watching the TV. Get your child excited about something. Go out on a walk with them, or spend the weekends hiking the nearest trails. You can even schedule family time, where none of you are spending time on gadgets.
- There are counselors, who can guide and help you child in amazing ways. You can take them for a session to know how the child responds to talking to a third person. The counselor can also offer ideas on relaxation techniques that can help to manage stress. If your child has anger issues, counseling can be extremely useful.
Finally, help your child to plan his schedule, so that he is not always pressed for time. Having a routine works wonders in dealing with stress.
