How does it feel to be a parent, watching your kid always sulking, sad, and unhappy? How do you react to your whining child or angry child without any?
I am asking this because I have seen parents usually get angrier instead of searching for the cause. Well, is that the right thing to do?
If you get angry equally, this is not the right thing to do! If your child is always moody, causes might be hiding inside them. It also might happen that your child might be experiencing stress. Well, yes, children can also experience stress. And don’t worry; your child is not alone, and stress in childhood is completely manageable or controllable.
In this blog, l have tried to answer all your queries related to stress in children, such as signs and symptoms, causes, and how to cope with stress in children. So, let’s get started.
Can Children Experience Stress?
Like adults, children can also experience stress. However, their stressors might not be the same, but the emotional and physiological responses to stress are real. Stress in children often arises from overwhelming situations or changes in their routine or environment. Parents and caregivers must recognize that children may not understand and express their feelings, so they must understand the signs and causes, which is essential.
Signs and Symptoms of Stress in Children?
When under stress, children show different signs. These can be physical, emotional, or behavioral. Common symptoms include:
Physical Symptoms:
● Regular headaches or stomachaches
● They face a problem sleeping and struggle with nightmares
● Fatigue or loss of appetite
Emotional Symptoms:
● Irritability or mood swings
● Clinginess or withdrawal from activities they usually enjoy
● Excessive fear, worry, or sadness
Behavioral Symptoms:
● Unable to concentrate
● Their performance decline in school
● Increased tantrums
● Bedwetting, thumb-sucking, and other regressive behaviors
What are the causes of stress in children?
Just like adults face stress for different reasons, children face it, too. The common factors that cause stress in children are:
1. School Pressure:
The child struggles with homework and cannot cope with the study pressure; there is peer pressure, tests, and the pressure to maintain grades, and they always come first.
2. Changes in environment and family:
Most parents think that divorce, moving homes, or the arrival of a new sibling is normal, and a child should accept it. But for the child, this is a big change. Where some can handle it, sensitive children cannot take it well. When children see their parents getting separated or they have to share their parents’ love with the new sibling, they can’t take it as they feel unwanted, which stresses them.
3. Social Challenges:
Change of place, bullying, peer pressure, or difficulty making friends are other reasons the child can feel stressed. When there is peer pressure, and there is no one to share what they feel, or when they are introverted and are unable to make friends but are forced to talk to others so that they have a circle, all this stresses them out.
4. Over-Scheduling:
Sometimes, to show that their child is smart, parents enroll the child in too many extracurricular activities, which is not easy for the child. This lack of time and pressure to excel stressed them.
5. Exposure to Conflict:
No one likes to witness arguments and fights. Especially if a child experiences tension at home and parents often fight, the child gets stressed and depressed.
6. Traumatic Events:
Illness, the loss of a loved one, or exposure to global or local crises is difficult to handle for both adults and children. Therefore, as a caregiver or parent, you must understand that you can’t categorize things and say illness can affect adults and stress them, but why do children worry? A traumatic event is hurtful for both adults and children.
How can parents help their children cope with stress?
When a child is stressed, the parent should pay attention because the closest person to the child is the parent. If you feel that your child is stressed or see signs of stress, you can use these strategies to help them cope with stress:
1. Encourage Open Communication:
You are not doing a great job scolding the child or not paying attention to the child’s feelings. If you care for your child, always give them a safe space to express their feelings without judgment freely. Ask open-ended questions like, “What’s been on your mind lately?” “Is there something you want to say?” When you give them a platform and open space, it becomes easy to share what bothers them, and they can easily deal with the stress.
2. Help Them Build Coping Skills:
Mediation, deep breathing, journaling, and grounding are not only for adults. You also teach all these relaxation techniques to children. This will help them stay prepared for stressful situations and be mindful without getting overwhelmed. Moreover, they should be encouraged to always participate in hobbies or activities that bring joy and calm.
3. Maintain a Stable Routine:
If your child does not have a routine, make them build one, as consistency helps manage things. Also, they bring discipline into a child’s life, helping them avoid overloading their day with too many commitments.
4. Promote Healthy Habits:
A sedentary lifestyle is harmful. So, encourage regular physical activity. This will help reduce stress hormones and help the child connect with self and nature. Furthermore, when the body is active, it can digest food well, and the child will not have sleeping issues.
5. Be a Role Model:
If your child will see you always talking about stress or sitting lonely and sad, they will copy the same. So, show them healthy stress management skills and how you can implement them. Make them understand it is okay to ask for help when needed, and that there is nothing wrong with expressing emotions.
6. Seek Professional Help if Necessary:
After doing all this, if your child is unable to cope with stress and it becomes overwhelming, consult a child psychologist or counselor.
By understanding these signs and causes of stress and taking proactive steps, as a parent or caregiver, you can help your children build resilience and navigate challenges.
A Word From CalmSage – Help Your Child Sail Through
Stress in children is more common than most parents may realize. Witnessing it can be challenging, but it is important to remember that it’s both manageable and treatable. You just need to recognize the signs and symptoms, understand the potential causes, and provide a supportive and nurturing environment. You can help your child navigate their emotions and build resilience.
Keep checking your responses because how you interact with your child makes a significant difference. Encourage open communication, do not judge or criticize them, be a role model, and seek professional guidance when needed. Remember, it’s not about being a perfect parent but about being a present and understanding one.
I hope this blog helps you understand stress in childhood or “why my child is stressed.” If I have missed something or if you want to ask something related to stress in children, you can comment below. For more such content, connect with us on all social media platforms.
Thanks for reading!
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