Facilitate children to manage their stress:-
“Don’t harm your children by making their lives easier” – Robert Heinlein.
Sometimes we think kids are so lucky because they don’t have to worry about housework, paying bills, dealing with tough bosses, peer pressure, office politics, or job performance. But believe me, being a child is not child’s work. On the contrary, they have to face immense apprehension about their performance in school/university, sports, curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities; they too face social, peer and homework pressure; and challenges like dealing with stalkers or sexual abuse. Unfortunately, even relaxing activities such as sports, art and drawing, dancing, swimming, aerobics, hiking, jumping, cycling, bicycling, and running have become more about performance than fitness. a pleasure. All of these dynamics lead to unhelpful, self-critical thoughts that affect your health, your mental/emotional stability, or even your general well-being. Failing a math test or doing poorly in a cricket match will not make them delinquent. Failure and denunciation are part of everyone’s life.
The most common question after reading all this is: Can we handle your stress? My answer is no! But surely we can teach them to manage their stress. I can understand that different children deal with pressure in a different way. Some also face significant distressing conditions such as parental divorce, death of a parent, parental abuse, parent addicted to drugs or alcohol, living with a single parent or step-parent. The too busy or too free child also faces multiple stresses. Here are some proven ways:-
• Pressure them to face the situation instead of avoiding it, running away or procrastinating.
• Make sure they have a good sleep pattern and get enough rest for a minimum of 8-10 hours a day.
• They can take a 30-minute power nap during the day to feel refreshed.
• Don’t cut off your emotions. When they are upset, allow them to express their feelings. Instead of saying, ‘No, you don’t seem scared at all,’ say, ‘You seem a little nervous.’ Is there a problem?’ then you can help them find solutions to the problem. Accepting the problem to solve it is crucial.
• Don’t say ‘Stop being nervous’ None of us would love it or do it on purpose. Instead, help them deal effectively with the stressful situation.
• If your child is anxious, don’t make negative comments, criticize or scold him. Teach them some stress-relieving techniques like yoga, meditative prayers, tai chi, qigong, or simple deep-breathing exercises.
• It is necessary to plan their day or help them plan their day (if they are adults) that includes few or at least one relaxing activity.
• Eating a well-balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins at regular intervals also helps control mood swings.
• Reward their bravery. If they faced challenging circumstances with optimism, reward them. By prize I don’t mean expensive gifts, they can be just a few nice words of thanks, a kiss, a hug or a small gift.
• Allow them to face a stressful situation appropriate for their age. Don’t overprotect them. Moderate stress is necessary to help a child cope with stressful situations. In fact, help them identify the signs of stress, unless they are in a state of stress and find a suitable solution to overcome their irritability.
There are many bodily and mental symptoms of stress. Corporate signs include-
• increased blood pressure, heartbeat
• decreased/increased appetite
• headache
• Stomach ache
• nightmares
• stutter
• Sleep disorder
• bedwetting
Whereas, the psychological indicators are-
• cry for no reason
• ringing, stubbornness or lack of concentration
• throw tantrums
• constant worry, fear, anger, or nervousness
• stickiness
• unable to control emotions
• the invariable feeling of fatigue
• Childhood habits such as teeth grinding or finger biting (yes, seen even in an adult/growing child)
If you can’t handle your stress, seek help from teachers, coaches, counselors, or therapists. Ultimately, it all starts with you. If you show them how positively you handle their discomfort or problem-provoking situation, they will follow in your footsteps, for today’s trouble-free child is tomorrow’s healthy youth.