How to Teach Children to Manage Stress

Even very young children can experience stress

Children experience stress just as adults do. However, stress can be very frightening to children. It is a caregivers responsibility to identify when a child is stressed and to help that child manage her stress. The following article will discuss how to help children to manage their stress.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• No materials needed

How to Teach Children to Manage Stress

1. Do not solve every problem for your child. Allow your child the chance to work through problems and learn valuable problem solving skills along the way.Don't try to fix everything for the child, and avoid offering advice. Sometimes just listening so that your child feels truly heard may be enough to relieve the stress.

2. Avoid constantly giving advice. Sometimes, just listening to your child helps them to relieve tension and stress. It is important that your child can come to you to discuss problems and stressors.

3. As your child questions that will encourage him to think about the problem. Ask him what his next step will be or how he would handle certain situations.

4. Teach your child some deep breathing techniques or have him listen to soothing music to help to alleviate his stress.

5. Think about the things that you do to relieve stress. These may help your child. Have your child walk the dog, or exercise, or sit quietly and read a favorite book.

Tips & Warnings

• Toddlers can become stressed by seeing new people at home or at day care. Stress can also be caused by going to several new places in the same day or by changes in the family routine.

• Older children can be stressed by peer pressure and by the expectations of parents, teachers, and coaches. Going to school can bring elevated levels of stress each year.

• It is important that you, as a parent, model positive stress management techniques. If you cannot manage your own stress, you will not be able to help your child manage his.

• Children who cannot manage their stress will often act out in an aggressive manner.

Resources

• Stress Management for Kids