• Helping Your Child Cope With Stress

    With today’s hectic lifestyles, more children than ever are experiencing signs of stress. Fortunately, kids are resilient. They can learn to cope with the stresses in their lives if they are taught specific coping skills and have a dependable source of emotional support. Listed below are signs of stress to look for in your child.

    Signs of Stress in Early School Age Children
    •    Refusal to go or fear of going to school
    •    Unexplained physical complaints such as stomachaches and headaches
    •    Increased aggressiveness
    •    Regression to younger habits, such as crying and thumb-sucking
    •    Nightmares

    Signs of Stress in Later Elementary School Age Children
    •    Acting out (misbehaving)
    •    Isolation or withdrawal from normal activities
    •    Increased aggressiveness or anger
    •    Over-compliance
    •    Fear of making mistakes
    •    Perfectionism
    •    Regression

    Signs of Stress in Teens/Adolescents
    •    Change in sleep habits
    •    Chronic irritability or a quick temper
    •    Fear of trying new experiences
    •    Fear of making mistakes
    •    Increased sensitivity to complaints
    •    Perfectionism

    How to Help Your Child Cope
    Just as the signs of stress differ according to a person’s age, so do the ways that parents can best help their children cope. By early school age, children can usually talk about their fears. Listen empathically and reassure your children that they are safe.

    With elementary school age children Demonstrate or role-play coping skills and strategies such as taking deep breaths, counting to ten, or tensing and relaxing facial muscles. Use silliness to lighten the mood.

    With teens and adolescents, it is important to keep the lines of communication open by being available to listen, without preaching. Encourage your teen to maintain proper sleeping and eating habits. For bigger issues, have an open discussion with your teen and tell him or her how you handled a stressful situation in your life. This will help normalize the stress that your teen feels.
Last Modified on October 14, 2011