Helping Kids Deal with Stress

Patience and good example are the best teachers when helping kids deal with stress. Stand back and let kids use your good example as their guide. If they still have difficulty dealing with stress try some other techniques. Here are some good suggestions for helping kids deal with stress. Whether at school, home or work, kids can learn to deal with any stress using a little positive guidance from parents .

Don't Deny Their Frustration
You can help kids deal with stress by having respect for their feelings. Avoid saying things like, "Oh, come on, it's not that bad!" Kids want to know you are on their side. A better approach would be offering to talk about it when they're ready. Letting kids take initial responsibility for handling small stress leaves them better equipped to deal with larger stress in the future.

Relieve the Pressure
Kids today are under a great deal of pressure to succeed. If they have more responsibility than they can handle, think about backing up a little. Take a look at what they have on their plate. Suggest lightening the load by participating in one club, group or sport they really enjoy, instead of four or five that they are slightly interested in.

Make Them Smile
A smile or a laugh helps kids deal with stress. Tell kids a funny experience from your childhood. Make goofy faces at them until they have to smile. Rent a funny movie to watch together. Better yet, if they are old enough, how about renting the tape of a stand up comedian? Everyone feels better about the stress in their life after a good laugh.

Do Something Special With Them
Forget about stress for a while. Sometimes it's easier for kids to deal with stress after they take a break from the pressure. Why not take a short day trip to someplace interesting? Have a makeover day with girls. Take boys to a ball game. Get out of the house and away from responsibilities for a while. Helping kids with stress sometimes means getting out of the normal routine and having some fun.

Teach Them To Release Anger Positively
Teach kids to deal with stress in a non-violent manner. Pent up feelings can often lead to violence. How about a gym membership or just a walking or running routine? Buy kids an I-pod to use while exercising to make it fun. Physical exercise can work out the anger of a stressful situation that might otherwise come out in less positive ways.

One Step at a Time
Not everyone is a multi-tasker. Some extremely intelligent individuals do better focusing on one thing at a time and seeing it through to completion, prior to the next task. Help kids deal with stress by focusing on one task or step at a time. Tell them to take everything out of their head but that one thing. See what happens. You may have a genius on your hands.

Remain Positive Yourself
I have said this many times. That's because it's true. Example is the very best teacher. If kids see you dealing with stress by screaming, yelling, hitting and fighting, this is how they will deal with stress too. Set an example by handling the stress in your own life calmly and rationally. Avoid name calling, road rage and other outbursts. Your kids will learn to deal with stress more positively too.

Source:

Personal Experience