How to help your child cope with stress: 5 simple tips

Being a parent is by far one of the toughest challenges in life. Being constantly overwhelmed by work, household chores, parents may not notice the child’s experiences. Meanwhile, many studies show that stress in children and adolescents is constantly growing – including due to exams and multiple tests.

Stress in modern life is already an inevitable phenomenon. But there are ways to reduce its impact on both the child and the entire family.

Children have their own stresses. They, of course, are not the same as in adults, but they are quite real. And you cannot underestimate them. Often at psychologists’ appointments, adults admit that when they were little they were afraid to tell their parents about their worries, because, having done this once, they heard the answer: “You are a child! You can’t have any problems! I live in stress. ” After that, the child stopped telling his mother about his experiences. He closed himself off, feeling more and more alone.

What to do: take time to listen to your child. If he is upset and you cannot talk now, calm him down and explain that you cannot listen to him now, but be sure to sit down with him and discuss his problem later. And don’t forget to keep your promise.

If you have two or more same-sex children, you can easily assume that they have similar dressing tastes and preferences. This often happens. But sometimes children in the same family, of the same sex, close in age, are very different. And as the second, third or fourth child, they feel resentful if they are not perceived as individuals. An adult woman at a psychologist’s reception said that at the age of 5 she was forced to go to ballet and tap dance lessons, although she could not dance and did not like. She liked books and animals, but her parents lost sight of her hobbies, focusing on the addictions of her older sister.

What to do: encourage your kids’ different hobbies and listen to their needs.

You can be very stressed, just like many people around you. Perhaps you hate your job, locked up in a failed marriage, worried about your parents’ health, worried about paying bills – these are all your stress. But you’ll be a healthier and happier family if you don’t give in to the impulse and raise your voice to your children. Stress makes us irritable. And at any moment we can explode, as a rule, on those people who are next to us. Often adults do not understand how close to heart a child can take what was said in the heat of the moment.

What to do: it is definitely important to focus on your feelings. But if you are stressed, then try to deal with your irritation away from your children.

Making friends is very personal. And this is one of the first things children do for themselves. Unfortunately, parents do not always like the friends of their children, the people with whom they surround themselves.

What to do: it is important not to criticize your child’s friends. Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion and perhaps over time you will be able to explain this to your child. But children’s first attempts to form their social circle are integral to their development. Even when they are small, their choices should be respected.

Help the kids make friends. Not everyone has the courage to strike up a conversation with other children. For many, this is a serious stress. More often than not, those children in whose families fathers and mothers also have few friends cannot find friends. By the way, people who form a strong social network outside of their family tend to be healthier and happier. Therefore, encourage your child to be friends. A school class party or picnic you organize will help you get off the ground if your child is uncommunicative.

When children are young, their school days stretch in front of them forever. In fact, the school occupies all their thoughts and experiences. Psychologists note that in many adults, insecurity began to form precisely when a teacher or parent thought they were stupid. Therefore, validate your child’s abilities as often as possible. This will reduce stress and increase self-esteem.

What to do: set aside time during the week to discuss with your child what happened at school, what you liked and what was difficult. If you find reading or math problems, talk about it and help him at home. Or arrange with your teacher for additional help and support.