Help your child deal with stress

Everyone has something to worry about. Maybe you worry about work, health, finances, or taking care of your family. Did you know that your children worry too? You might ask yourself, “What could my child possibly be worried about?” Even though you might see your child’s life as being easy, sometimes it’s not. Children worry about a lot of things — more than you might think. They worry about you, they worry about school, and they worry about world events.

Children handle stress in different ways. Some regress — they act younger, more fearful, or needier. Outbursts of anger and aggression are signals of stress at all ages. And a child who withdraws, seems constantly sad, has trouble sleeping, or shows significant changes in appetite may be overly stressed and worried. If you think your child
is worrying too much, try using these tips:

• Acknowledge how your child feels. Take his or her concerns seriously and do not
  minimize them.
• Your child’s concerns are very real to your child, as real as yours are to you.
• Encourage conversation. Look for opportunities to ask about feelings and opinions. Some of the best conversations happen in a car with no music and no cell phone.
• Think about your own behavior. Are you stressed and are you communicating that to
  your children?
• Find ways to relax so that you can stay calm.
• Look for creative ways to deal with stress. For younger children, puppets may help them act out their feelings. Or you can ask your child to write or draw his or her feelings in a journal
  or diary.
• Plan some exercises and activities you can do as a family. Walking, swimming, biking, and skating get everyone to move more and can make a big difference in your child’s mood.
• Volunteer together. Look for opportunities in your community. Volunteering can help your family bond and will show your child how to help others.
• Don’t make a promise that you can’t keep. You should not tell your child that a natural disaster or terrorist attack will never affect them. Instead tell your child the chances of such things happening are small and you will do whatever you can to keep him or her safe.
• Keep tabs on what your children see and hear at home and at school. Know when to turn off the television or radio.
• Help when you can. Make sure your child isn’t worried about anything that you can help control, such as understanding how to do his or her homework.