Helping Your Child Deal With Stress

When you hear the word stress you think of adults worrying about different things right? Well believe it or not children of all ages can experience Stress well. Now your child may not quite understand what is going on. That is why you need to be there for them in helping your child deal with stress. So many things today can take action in making your child feel this way.

What Can Cause Stress In A Child

1. Moving to a new home
2. Being away from parents
3. Something happening to a friend or family member
4. Fighting in the home or fighting around them
5. Someone being mean or bullying them
6. If they feel like they do not fit in with others
7. School
8. Chores they have to do

Signs That My Child Is Stressing

• Your child may cling to you more then they did before
• They might not let you take them to school, day care or babysitters without throwing a tantrum
• They may start to wet the bed
• Your child might suck their thumb or fingers
• It is possible even that they get flu type symptoms such as stomach ache, nausea, headache and restlessness
• Continuous crying
• Either tired all the time or the opposite. They may become hyperactive or very anger and irritated
• The child may become defiant to things you ask them to do

What Can I Do To Help My Child Deal With Stress

We as parents want to do everything that we can when we see that our child is acting out of the ordinary. Children are like sponges they soak up everything that they see and hear. In other words they learn from example. So when they see mom and dad fighting they may act the same way or it might hurt them that you are yelling. So stop fighting around them at all cost. If this means that you either need to go to a marriage counselor or separate then that is what has to be done. Now if it comes to separation be aware that it may put more stress on the child but eventually you can work on them with this too. Below are other ways you can help your child deal with stress and have a normal and healthy life that kids deserve to have.

Helping Your Child Cope With Stressful Situations

• A Healthy diet. When your child has a healthy diet that means a healthy body. Healthy children can deal with stress better.
• Exercise Taking you child to the park, bike riding, going for a jog, roller skating, aerobics, gymnastics, dancing, sports and more will help them lower their stress because they are working it out of them.
• Consistency Keeping set rules and guidelines for the home is a great way to help them. Things like set bed time, play time, homework, eating, baths and story time.
• Hugs and affection Telling your child that you love them as much as you can and hugging them as well as giving them kisses are ways that help a lot. Kids love when they are cuddled and shown affection.
• Listen to themIf your child wants to talk to you about anything at all always have an open ear for them. Even if you have a very busy schedule make time for them to talk.
• Making mistakes You want to tell your child that no one is perfect and it does not make them a bad person or stupid if they make a mistake. It is normal and natural we all do it.
• Stress relieversTeach them different ways that they can let out their stress. For instance scream in to a pillow, talk it out with you, breathing exercises, listening to good music, playing games and laughing