Managing Childhood Stress: An Effective Parental Guide to Identifying and Reducing Your Child’s Concerns

• Assist your child in accepting their bodily reactions to stress, such as headaches.
• Children may overextend themselves in sports and other activities; good stress is still stress.
• Your youngster will observe your handling of stress.

When faced with a challenge, threat, or change, people of any age often experience feelings of agitation, anxiety, or fear. It’s normal to respond when something significant is at risk.

Mood swings, tantrums, difficulty focusing in class, and irregular sleep habits are all indicators that your child is not handling stress well. Some kids have headaches or stomachaches, while others poop on the bed. Your child can become reclusive and isolate themselves more than normal. She might get sick all the time.

Let us imagine that your youngster has been practicing her violin concert nonstop. Then, the previous evening, she starts throwing up and decides she should miss it since she’s “ill.” Here’s where you fit in. It’s crucial that you remain calm as well. Rather, assist her in enduring.

Embrace the discomfort

Teachers and coaches warn athletes, performers, and anybody else who competes or is in high-stress circumstances that these significant events might cause physical symptoms. Author of Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed Daniel McGinn advises preparing her to view them as a sign of “good” enthusiasm rather than “bad” anxiety. According  research, anxiety symptoms usually go away on their own in 20 to 45 minutes. It goes away when the discomfort is accepted. Children aren’t always aware of when to back off. That’s not to say students should give up on things when they’re upset, but it may be stressful to have six honors classes, marching band rehearsal, chess club, and athletics all at once.

“The stress doesn’t necessarily come from bad things, but can come from too many good things,” says child psychologist Todd Cartmell, author of 8 Simple Tools for Raising Great Kids. “There’s just so much you can take on. Your kids can end up feeling overwhelmed all the time. It’s critical that you pay attention to that and help your kids maintain a balance.”

The key is to maintain your connection and have fun with your kids as often as possible. “Ask about their day, how things are going at home, at school, and with friends,” Cartmell says. “If your kids are used to talking with you, you have the pathway paved.”

Ideally, they shouldn’t find it difficult to open up and discuss their problems.

When they do, pay attention to what they have to say and allow them to express themselves. Avoid giving out your own advise or lecturing.

After you’ve given them some space, it’s crucial to offer alternative points of view. Sometimes erroneous perceptions give birth to stress. That voice in your head has the power to start a chain reaction of false beliefs that can elevate your stress level.

Przeworski advises parents to teach their children that it’s alright to make errors and to be flawed. Concentrate on the good things as you proceed.

Stress symptoms can go away if you accept them.

Set an example for others

Your children look up to you. They are constantly observing how you handle your personal stress, even when you aren’t aware of it.

Youngsters absorb and mirror the feelings of their parents. Are you able to maintain composure and perseverance?

Set an example of behavior that enables children to solve issues and confront the world bravely. Przeworski suggests rewarding bravery in several ways, such as giving a hug, a sticker, praise, or a special outing.