Make it easy for children to manage their stress: –
“Don’t hinder your children by making life easier for them” – Robert Heinlein.
Sometimes we think kids are very lucky as they don’t have to worry about managing household chores, paying bills, handling tough bosses, dealing with peer pressure / office politics, or job performance. But believe me, being a child is not child labor. On the contrary, they have to face immense apprehension about their performance in school / university, sports, curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities; They also face pressure from peers, peers, and homework; and challenges like dealing with stalkers or sexual abuse. Unfortunately, even relaxing activities such as sports, art and drawing, dancing, swimming, aerobics, hiking, jumping, cycling, biking, and running have become more of a performance than a run. enjoyment. All of these dynamics lead to unhelpful thoughts and self-criticism that affect your health, mental / emotional stability, or even general well-being. Failing a math test or performing poorly in a cricket match will not make them criminals. Failure and denunciation are part of everyone’s life.
The most common question after reading all this is: Can we handle your stress? My answer is no! But surely we can teach them to manage their stress. I can understand that a different child copes with pressure in a different way. Some also face major distressing conditions such as parental divorce, parent death, parental abuse, drug or alcohol addicted parent, life with a single parent or stepparent. The too busy or free child also faces multiple levels of stress. Here are some proven ways: –
• Push them to face the situation instead of avoiding, running away, or procrastinating.
• Make sure they have an adequate sleep pattern and get enough rest for a minimum of 8 to 10 hours a day.
• They can take a 30-minute power nap during the day to feel fresh.
• Don’t cut off your emotions. When they are restless, allow them to express their feelings. As an alternative to saying, ‘No, you don’t seem scared at all,’ say, ‘You seem a little nervous. Is there a problem? ‘then you can help them find solutions to the problem. Accepting the problem to solve it is essential.
• Don’t say “Stop making yourself nervous.” None of us would love it or do it with a purpose. Instead, help them manage the stressful situation effectively.
• If your child is in a state of anxiety, don’t make negative comments, criticize, or scold him. Teach them some stress relieving techniques like yoga, meditation prayers, tai chi, qigong, or simple deep breathing exercises.
• You need to schedule your day or help you schedule your day (if you are an adult) that includes little or at least one relaxing activity.
• Eating a well-balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein at regular intervals also helps control mood swings.
• Reward your bravery. If they faced difficult circumstances optimistically, reward them. By prize I do not mean expensive gifts, it can be just a few words of thanks, a kiss, a hug or a small gift / present.
• Allow them to deal with an age-appropriate stressful situation. Don’t overprotect them. Moderate stress is necessary to help a child cope with stressful situations. In fact, help him to identify the signs of stress, unless he is in the state of stress and find a suitable solution to overcome his restlessness.
There are many bodily and mental symptoms of stress. Body signs include-
• increased blood pressure, heartbeat
• decreased / increased appetite
• headache
• Stomach ache
• nightmares
• stuttering
• sleep disorder
• enuresis
Considering that the psychological indicators are-
• cry for no reason
• ringing, stubbornness, or lack of concentration
• throw tantrums
• constant worry, fear, anger, or nervousness
• attachment
• unable to control emotions
• the invariable feeling of fatigue
• Childish habits such as teeth grinding or finger biting (yes, it is seen even in a growing child / adult)
If you can’t manage your stress, seek help from teachers, coaches, counselors, or therapists. Finally, it all starts with you. If you show them how positively you handle their concern or upsetting situation, they will follow in your footsteps, as the child of today without distress is the healthy youth of the future.
