Helping Stressed Out Children

Stress. It is a constant in today’s society. Whereas some level of stress can keep us motivated and engaged, too much can overwhelm and exhaust us. Stress is not the exclusive domain of adults anymore. It is concerning that negative signs of stress are becoming increasingly common in children today, even in toddlers and preschoolers, as society has become more hyper-connected and its demands have become more frenetic. Pediatricians report an uptick in the number of patient visits related to stress, even in children as young as kindergarten and first grade.

Helping Stressed Out Children

When your child is stressed and anxious, you may feel it and see it in your child’s behaviors or he or she may suffer silently. Increased emotion, sensitivity, and tears are just a few of the ways stress overload emerges in children. Changes in eating habits and sleep are also common warning signs that stress could be developing into a problem. Learning more about stress is an important step in helping your child learn how to handle stress, which is a skill set that will be invaluable regardless of the age. There are many things you can do to help your child perceive challenges accurately, develop effective solutions to events, and keep stress in perspective

Your own responses to stress provide your child with the best examples of how to respond to changing situations and challenges. Children often mirror parents’ behaviors and attitudes. I’ve recently co-authored a book to help you and your child. It can help you as you and your child face the daily challenges of life so energy won’t be sapped by indecision and worry but will be channeled into productive ways to handle stress. It’s titled Stressed Out! Solutions for Helping Your Child Manage Stress and available in book stores and online.