How to help children manage their stress

All kids and teens tend to feel stressed at times, especially when it is approaching examination periods or tests. Other forms of stress can come from their social life (bullying and peer pressure), changing schools, and dealing with house problems. 

Prolonged stress can weaken the immune system and lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression—disorders that are becoming more common in youth.

We do not recommend eliminating stress completely for your child or shielding them from all the difficulties they will face in life. Raising a child who is resilient and capable of bouncing back from any hardships and challenges will be more beneficial. 

Since stress is a natural part of life, parents need to do their jobs and provide their children with the necessary strategies so that they can better manage the stresses they will face in life.

Here are some forms of activities that can help your child manage stress:

How to help children to manage their stress?

1. Getting active
2. Adopting a growth mindset
3. Journaling 
4. Connecting as a family 
5. Leading by example

1. Getting active

Getting active is not just good for physical health, is it good for mental health too!

If your child is feeling bored and facing any other emotions such as anger, sadness or any feelings of getting anxiety, getting them out and being active will help them to even out any emotions that they are currently facing. 

Some forms of physical activities for children: 

• Taking a family walk outdoors
• Playing catching 
• Swimming 
• Cycling
• Outdoor Playground

Any kind of exercise will likely be able to help reduce stress levels significantly. Therefore, it is important for you to determine which activity will work best for your child. Read more here about the types of activities that your child can participate in to help them cope with stress better.

2. Encouraging a growth mindset

Encouraging your child to switch from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset is important with reducing stress and improving grades amongst children. In stressful situations.

Based on some research in parenting that was conducted, it was proven that children who are exposed to a growth mindset tend to view the world with hope and appreciation. With the love for learning and experiencing the joy of learning for young children, they will be able to develop healthy patterns of knowledge acquisition and they will be able to better manage stress as they grow up. This can be further supported by education research which proved that young children with a growth mindset tend to score better in tests and perform better academically in school. 

Some ways to incorporate a growth mindset in your child includes:

• Encourage learning: Teach your child that mistakes serve as an opportunity for them to grow.
• Model a growth mindset: Setting an example for your child so that they will be inspired to have a growth mindset as well. 

Read here to find out more about why it is important to cultivate a growth mindset in your child.

3. Journaling

A journal is a place where children can seek comfort to write about their personal thoughts and feelings as they record their daily lives. By writing journals, children will be able to express any pent-up frustrations, which helps them feel better afterward.

To get started with a journal, your child will first require a tablet or a physical paper and pen where they can express their personal feelings comfortably. Journaling is done best in a conducive environment that is relaxing and quiet and free of any interruptions and distractions, so that your child will be able to concentrate better, allowing their thoughts to flow freely without any interruptions leading to more insightful writing. 

Here are some topics that they can write on their journal: 

• What they have done today
• Something that they are looking forward to 
• Something that they wish could change their life 

A journal can be their own private book where they can use it to share with other people who are close to them. Read here to find out more information about how journaling can help your child manage

4. Connect as a family

 Connecting as a family can significantly reduce the amount of stress your child faces by providing them with a strong emotional support and foundation. Children tend to feel more secure in a home environment and they are more likely to share any of their worries or anxieties with their loved ones. Regular family activities and shared activities can help to foster stronger family relationship bonds which creates a nurturing environment that fosters a sense of security and comfort which is essential in alleviating stress. Some activities that families can participate includes: 

• Regular family meals: Sharing meals together provides an opportunity for conversation and bonding. 
• Family games night: Playing games together which helps to foster teamwork and laughter while strengthening family ties. 

By focusing on connecting as a family, this helps to build resilience in your kids and learn healthy coping skills when it comes to managing stress.  Read more here about how you can help your child manage stress. 

5. Leading by example

Children at a young age tend to pay close attention to what we say and do as parents. The better we care for ourselves and manage our stress levels, the better it will be for our children. It is important that parents set the right healthy habits such as having adequete nutrients in the body and having sufficient rest at night. Some examples of how parents can set the right example of managing stress includes: 

• Demonstrating healthy coping mechanisms for managing their stress levels 
• Open communication through openly talking about stress and any emotions that you are facing

By practicing such habits at home, parents can be a powerful example for their child teaching them valuable strategies for managing stress that they face in their lives and helping them to live more balanced healthy lifestyles. Find out more here about how you can be a good role model for your child when it comes to managing stress. 

In conclusion, providing your child with the necessary stress relief techniques is necessary for fostering their overall emotional well-being and resilience. By connecting as a family and engaging in open communication and modeling stress management behaviours, parents will be able to create a supportive environment that helps your child to navigate life’s challenges better.