5 Tips to Help Your Child Deal with Stress

Gone are the days when childhood used to be carefree. With the changing times and

increased expectations, children today can be super stressed. Performance pressure, peer

interactions, extra-curricular activities, hobby classes, tuition and spending time with parents,

all this can be difficult to balance and can become a source of worry for kids.

Kids opt for both healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with stress. They may feel embarrassed

to share their feelings with parents and as a result, become more withdrawn, sleep less, have

frequent headaches,

change their eating

habits or take recourse

to gadgets to find

peace. Therefore, it is

important for the

parents to recognize

the symptoms on time

and provide the

required help. It is

important to spend

time with kids, initiate

conversations and

make kids comfortable

enough for them to

pour their heart out.

However, this may not be that easy especially with younger children who may not even know

that they are stressed. Here are five basic tips for parents to help children deal with stress in

the most effective way:

1. Be the role model

Parents are role models for their kids. Children closely observe their parents’ behavior and

responses to situations, remember and replicate. Parents should set a good example of how

to deal with stress in a positive way and teach children to handle stress by staying calm and

positive. This would go a long way in preparing the child to face any adversity in the future.

2. Stop being a critic

Criticizing a child in front of others is always a bad idea. Any issues should be dealt with the

child in private instead of making them a public affair. Parents should be the guiding light

without being judgmental.

3. Train kids to deal with mistakes

Some kids are fearful of committing mistakes. Parents should tell them that they are not

supposed to do everything in the right way. While it is important to learn new skills with time,

taking bad decisions can help kids learn from their mistakes. Kids should be taught to fix a

problem and move on. They must be encouraged to conquer their fear and learn the lessons.

4. Ensure sound sleep and exercise

Kids who have enough sleep are less irritable and are better able to handle stress at school.

Parents should limit the accessibility of gadgets such as television and phone so that kids have

enough time to complete other required activities during the day and can sleep on time. It is

equally important to indulge your child in some sort of physical activity. It is a great way to

relieve stress, feel fresh and perform daily tasks with energy and enthusiasm.

5. Communicate

Interacting with kids on a regular basis is important as this can help parents in establishing a

strong bond with their child. This would also help kids feel comfortable in talking to their

parents about anything, good or bad. Parents should also try and understand their child’s

psychology as this can help them in providing better support. The warning signs shouldn’t go

unnoticed.

Timely help is the trick

To provide support, it is important for parents to empathize with their child rather than berate

them for their changed behavior and poor performance. The best help that any parent can

provide is when the required assistance is a combination of love and care. Providing timely

help can save the child from experiencing anxiety and depression that might develop from

such stressful situations.

If you know a child who is going through stress or parents who are struggling to help their kid

deal with stress and anxiety, contact the Colorado Mental Health Help. Call at our 24/7

helpline 866-899-5063 to get details about the best mental health treatment centers in

Colorado and some evidence-based treatment centers of mental health rehab in Colorado.

For more information, please visit

www.coloradomentalhealthhelp.com