How to help your kid deal with stress
By Mercedes Oromendia, our Chief Clinical Officer
Parents, believe it or not, we are not the only ones who get stressed. SHOCKER. Our kids and teens could also experience a great deal of stress caused by school, extracurricular activities, friendships, or other responsibilities.
While some kids thrive under the pressure, for others it may lead to anxiety and may even contribute to depression. If your kid confides in you about all the stress they are under be sure to do these 3 things: remind them that you love them and are proud of them, encourage them to take a deep breath, and offer your support or help.
It helps to know that someone always has your back and loves you for you, even when the world seems to be crumbling around you.
5 ways to help your kid deal with stress
⚠️ Watch for signs of stress. Younger kids may show subtle signs of stress, like headaches, stomachaches, or reluctance to go to school or do activities. While teens may show expressions of despair or hopelessness that you should pay attention to, however casual the comments may sound.
⌛ Teach kids time-management skills. With today's homework loads and abundance of after-school activities, time management and organizational skills are important in defeating stress. Teach your kids how to use their time wisely by encouraging them to tackle a task every day instead of waiting until the last minute.
😴 Encourage sleep, exercise, and family mealtimes. Adequate sleep alone would make a big difference in a kid or teen's stress levels. Help your kids get the recommended hours of sleep for their age group by implementing a bedtime. Stress builds up inside the body. Even light exercise like an evening walk could help release some of that pent-up energy. Eat at least one meal a day as a family where you guys are able to talk about your day.
🗣️ Watch the parental pressure. Some parents may not realize they're making their kid's stress worse by pressuring them to excel. While we all want our kids to succeed, let's think about how we define success in our families. Instead of our first question to our kid being "how did you do on your test today?", let's try asking "did you learn anything new or exciting today?"
🎳 Keep the fun in childhood and teen years. Think of how many times you wish you could be a responsibility-free child again. Remember that your kids will never get this time to be a kid again and give them space to relax, play, and enjoy life.