5 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress in Your Child

Is your child stressed out? Some people think only adultsnexperience stress, but it affects our children too. Here'snhow to help your child manage their emotions.nnWe often view our kids as happy-go-lucky beings without ancare. But children can also experience stress. Not only donthey get anxious about things in their own young world--nschool, friends, peer pressure--but they also can be deeplynaffected by outside factors such as war, natural disasters nand other unsettling world events. nnIn fact, the list of contributors to childhood stress can nbe quite long. Many stressors are the result of familynproblems, nlike divorce, a death or a parent's job loss but there are nalso less obvious triggers such as moving to a new city or nthe birth of a new sibling.nnAs a parent, you can become attuned to what's a normalnamount of anxiety for your child and what is not. If younnotice anything out of the ordinary, use the following ntools to help your child handle it better.nnTop 5 Stress Reducers for Childrennn1. Tune in to their moods.nnPay attention to your child's behavior. Take the time tontalk to your child to get to the root of the problem. nAsk questions like "How are you feeling?" "What's happening nat school?" or "How are things with your friends?" nWhen you show concern for their problems and issues, nit's reassuring to them and they'll be more responsive to nthat attention.nn2. Watch the same shows they do.nnIf you have younger children, you certainly don't want themnwatching the doom and gloom of daily news shows. nChildren's minds are like sponges in they absorb almostneverything they see or hear. They are especially sensitivento negative energy, pain or suffering. Shows like thennews can be traumatizing and anxiety-producing for younger nchildren.nnIt's important to discuss with them what they've seen. nYou can't tell them that it's never going to happen to nthem but you can say,"We're going to do everything we ncan to protect you". It's also a good idea to let themnknow whom to call and what to do in case of an emergency.nnn3. Focus on the positive.nnThere is obviously no way a child can be shielded from anmajor trauma such as a death in the family, a house fire nor a natural disaster. Instead, help children count theirnblessings. Comfort and reassure them by saying, n"We're strong and we're going to make it." "And asndifficult as it may be, try to maintain everyday routines. nFor many young victims of floods or fire, for example,ngoing back to school, even in another city, can help bring nsome normalcy back to their disrupted lives. nWhat can also help is to make sure children have positive noutlets like physical activity, going to the movies ornspending time with friends.nn4. Lead by example.nnChildren often learn to deal with stress by mimicking hownyou respond in challenging times. Even if you don't tellnyour child that you're about to be laid off from your job nor that you're worried that your marriage is on the verge nof breaking up, they can still pick up on your stress. nnThey may not understand the underlying causes but they ncan hear the strained tone and elevated volume of your nvoice,which gives them the message that something's ngoing on that may affect them too.nnThat's why it's so important to show them good copingnskills. If you light a cigarette, have a drink, or use foulnlanguage when you're under pressure, your little one mayninternalize that as a coping method. Instead, model healthynbehavior during difficult times, such as writing in anjournal, de-stressing in a hot bath, sharing how you feelnwithout blaming, or taking a walk.nn5. Instill confidence.nnWhen children are young, there are times when you will havento come to their defense and help them handle toughnsituations. But as they get older, you also have to let themnchampion themselves, which builds their confidence inntheir ability to resolve problems on their own. nnOne of your missions as a parent is to know when to step in nand when to stand back. Your response will depend on the nchild's temperament, maturity and the situation. Fornexample, your third grader may be able to confront a tauntingnclassmate on their own, but a serious case of bullying may warrantnyour intervention. nnStill, always make sure your child knows you've got theirnback. Tell them, "Try it on your own first,but if you need help,nlet me know and I'll be there."