Parents try to do the best for their children
in every way possible from selecting Best school in Delhi for them to making sure they excel
in their extra curricular. Yet, these days more and more children are getting
overburdened since they are put through extremely stressful circumstances.
Between schoolwork, homework, tests and exam anxiety, co-curricular activities
and peer pressure, kids these days are under a lot of stress.
Is your kid stressed out?
The mood or behavior of child will change if they are stressed out, according to leading pediatric psychologists. In a situation where a kid is stressed out he or she will seem irritated, cry more, withdraw for activities, or have negative self depreciating conversations. He or she might complain about headaches or stomachaches and have a shift in their sleep and food cycle. Kids under stress will mostly not want to go to school and have problems while getting ready. If you have noticed the above stated symptoms, there is a strong possibility that your child is over stressed. But fret not, here are a few ways you cab help them cope with it.
1. Stop the chaos
They say “A rushed child is never a calm
child”. A chaotic morning sets the wrong tone for the rest of the day. So
make sure you have a morning schedule, leave enough time and make sure
everything they need is ready to go.
2. Get more sleep
Kids who get enough sleep are likely to be
less irritable and better able to handle school stress. Sleep is extremely
essential to a child’s well-being. Statistics show that enough sleep results in
children being less irritable and better at handling stress.
3. Talk
The solution to every problem is
communication. If you suspect that your kid is over burdened or bullied, have a
conversation with them by asking them how his or her day has been. This is a
good way to subtly suggest them what to do, especially with older kids who
don’t like being told.
4. Practice
relaxation
Relaxation techniques like deep breathing,
progressive muscle relaxation and positive thinking works well with kids too.
Try writing daily affirmations of a piece of paper and put them all in a bowl
and right before your kid heads to school ask him to pick one. According to
psychologists this trick works really well in creating a positive outlook
towards the day.
5. Cut down on extras
As a society, we’ve come to assume that busy
is an equivalent of being happy. Keeping
busy is an unhealthy way to deal with life’s problems, and the psyche has been
forwarded to our kids. Too many after-school activities means less time for
self so reduce them and use dinner time to de-stress and bond with your family.
6. Don’t criticize
Criticizing creates fear and negative
affirmation. Even if you disagree, never talk negatively about their homework
or the review they got from their teachers in front of your child. If a child
is already feeling stress you need to be the calming force. So try to remain
positive.
7. Limit technology
The adverse effects of technology are well
known. Kids who spend more than seven hours a day using technology have higher
risk of being stressed. So put limits on
your kid’s tech time and spend more time being physically active.
8. Get help
If school stress is affecting your child’s mental
health and over all well being then it’s important to talk to a counselor who
can help your child adjust and cope. Top schools of Delhi like The Shri Ram School offer in-house counselors, so that your
child’s welfare is never compromised.
