How To Resist Teen Peer Pressure
Tips to manage child stress are 7 healthy ways to assist your child in handling those hectic troublesome times in their lives. If you think kids are lucky because all they do is play and have nothing to worry about. You can’t be more wrong. Kids have plenty to worry about. Stress from school (bullying and taunting from schoolmates) and social situations (wondering why they dress differently from other kids at a birthday party) can feel overwhelming for kids, particularly if they do not have healthy strategies to handle strong feelings and resolve everyday problems.
Kids deal with stress in both healthy and unhealthy ways, and while they may not start a discussion about what is troubling them, they do want their parents to reach out and help them cope with their feelings. But it is not always easy for parents to know how to connect with a child who is feeling stressed.
7 Healthy Tips To Manage Child Stress As A Parent
Be on hand to start a discussion
Let your child know you notice something he or she might be feeling. For instance; “It seems like you are still angry about what happened at the playground” This should not sound like an accusation as in, “OK, so what is wrong with you now? Are you still angry about that?” or put a child on the spot. It is just a casual observation that you are interested in hearing more about your child’s concerns.
Be there to listen attentively
Ask your child to tell you what is wrong. Listen calmly and carefully with interest, patience, openness, and love. Avoid any blame game, lecture, or say what you think your child should have done instead. The idea is to let your child’s concerns and feelings be heard. Try to get the whole story by asking questions like “And then what happened?” Take your time. And let your child take his or her time, too.
Be ready to say something positive
For example, you might say “That must have upset you,” “No wonder you felt angry when they would not let you in the game,” or “That must have seemed unfair to you.” Doing this shows that you understand your child’s feelings and that you love and care. Feeling understood and listened to helps your child bonding with you, and that is particularly crucial in times of stress.
Be in tune with their feelings
Many kids do not yet have words for their feelings. If your child seems angry or frustrated, use words to help him or her identify the emotions by name.
Putting feelings into words helps your child communicate and develop emotional awareness, and the ability to identify his or her own emotional states. A child who can do so is unlikely to reach a boiling point where strong emotions get demonstrated through negative behaviours rather than communicated with words.
Be helpful in choosing activities
Suggest activities your child can do to feel better and resolve the problem at hand. Encourage your child to think of a couple of ideas. You can get the brainstorming started if necessary, but do not do all the work. Your child’s active participation will build confidence.
Support the good ideas and add to them as needed. Ask, “How do you think this will work?” Sometimes talking and listening and feeling understood is the only requirement you need to help a child’s anxiety melt away. Alternatively, you can switch to something more positive and relaxing. Avoid giving the problem more attention than it deserves.
Be there always
Sometimes kids do not feel like talking about what is disturbing them. Respect that, give your child space, and still make it clear that you will be there when he or she does feel like talking. Even when kids do not talk, they usually do not want their parents to leave them alone. You can help your child feel better just by being there.
By keeping him or her company, and spending time together. So if you notice that your child seems to be feeling blue, depressed, stressed, or having a bad day, initiate something you can do together. Take a walk, watch a movie, go to the park, or cook a favourite snack or meal together. It is your presence that really counts.
Be patient and long-suffering
As a parent, it hurts to see your child sad or worried. But try to resist the urge to fix every problem. Instead, focus on helping your child, slowly but surely, grow into a good problem-solver. You want a kid who knows how to roll with life’s ups and downs, put feelings into words, calm down when required, and bounce back to try again. It will also give you your own peace of mind.
My Son and I
My son and I have a relationship that involves “a must communicate” when the need arises. No matter how difficult, we must talk things through. Understand issues at stake, if any. Apologise if necessary, hug, say “I love you” and move on. However, I know I cannot fix everything. I am also aware that I would not always be there to help resolve every problem as he goes through life. But by teaching him healthy coping strategies, I try to prepare him to handle whatever obstacles and stressors life throws at him in the future. I believe this is what parents should do. And that is why we are here to help our children manage stressful situations. I hope parents find the 7 healthy tips to manage child stress worth reading.
Photo Credit: Creative Commons
