Support Your Child in Times of Stress - 2

Ways to Reduce Stress

Keep your expectations of your kids realistic. Do not push them to achieve more than they are capable of doing. If his current report card reflects that he is an average student, do not pressure him to get the valedictory citation. This is just unfair and is stressful enough.

Set yourself as an example. Let the way you handle problems speak of the composure that you want to let your kids learn when they face stresses in their lives. Children imbibe what they see in adults and it becomes their own way too.

Schedule your kid’s activities in such a way that it gives them time to rest in between. Continuous activity, without rest, is physically and mentally taxing on the kid. If your kid has to attend a piano lesson after school, be sure that he has at least 45 minutes to relax before the piano lesson.

With too much activities going on, life may be in the fast lane. Help your kid to slow down. He has to follow his own pacing in order to avoid being stressed out.

When changes in the family is about to happen, you have to gently inform him of these changes, and be ready to patiently explain things to him. Some kids find it difficult to adjust and respond to changes in the family.

Be sure to regulate the emotional weather at home. When there is too much yelling and screaming, it can drown out the peace that is supposedly be found in the home, and children suffer.

Teach your kids to learn simple exercises which they can do by themselves in order to reduce stress. Some exercises could be correct breathing and simple stretching. You can even send your kid to a spa for a massage.

Studies, play, exercise, and food should be sufficiently balanced in your kid’s life. This will habituate him to a healthy lifestyle that beats stress.

Aside from studies and friends, children also need to learn to face tougher realities such as physical diseases, divorcing parents, death of a member of the family, change of residence, etc. In these instances, there should be a support available for kids to help them get through the psychological troubles these life events bring.

Gently explain to children that there are simply things that they have no control over.

If depression persists for more than three weeks, seek a professional help.

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