Children and Stress A Parent Information and Resource Center Workshop

What is stress?  A feeling that’s created when we react to certain events  The body’s way of rising to a challenge  What you feel when you are worried or uncomfortable about something

Sources of Stress  Pressures from family, friends or school  Academic  Social/ need to fit in  Overscheduling of after-school activities  World news  Chronic illness or death in the family  Divorce or separation  Child hearing adult conversations

Good versus Bad Stress  Good stress- keeps us alert and “on our toes” Examples- studying for a final exam, giving a speech, taking a penalty shot  Bad stress- long-term situations that cause the body to create extra stress hormones

What Stresses Children out the Most?  KidsHealth KidsPoll 2008  year olds  36%- grades, school, and homework  32%- family  21%- friends, peers, gossip and teasing

How Children are Handling Stress?  52%- play or do something active  44%- listen to music  42%- watch TV or play a video game  30%- talk to a friend  29%- try not to think about it  28%- try to work things out

How Children are Handling Stress?  26%- eat something  23%- lose their temper  22%- talk to a parent  11%- cry Source: KidsHealth National KidsPoll, KidsHealth.org, Nemours Foundation

Reactions to Too Much Stress  Stomachaches  Headaches  Moodiness  Drop in grades or school performance  Sadness or depression  Problems sleeping  Overeating  Anxiety

How to Help Your Child?  Teach coping strategies.  Put a label on your child’s emotions. Help your child find the words to describe feelings. “No wonder you felt mad when…” “No wonder you felt mad when…” “That must have been upsetting.” “That must have been upsetting.”  Brainstorm and problem solve with your child. “What else can you do?”

How to Help Your Child?  Limit stress when possible. Ex: Limit access to world news, adult conversations, cut out extra activities if having difficulty with homework completion  If your child does not want to talk, suggest doing something together.  Allow your child to guide how you help. You can not solve all his/her problems. Children need to learn how to be resilient.

Resources  kidshealth.org, The Nemours Foundation kidshealth.org  National Association of School Psychologists  family.samhsa.gov, Family Guide provided by U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration