Question: Do children need help with stress management?
...And, if so, how can I help my kids cope with stress?
Answer: It’s both wonderful and important to teach children about stress management. Children do experience stress--especially these days--and stress management is a skill they’ll use throughout their lives. One important stress reliever to teach children of all ages that can help them deal with everything from uncomfortable feelings to tantrums, is breathing exercises. It helps them stop, relax, and refocus. Other strategies you can effectively teach your children include drawing pictures that express intense feelings (a precurser to journaling), talking about problems with a trusted friend or adult, playing with and caring for pets, participating in sports or other forms of exercise, and just asking for a hug when one is needed. Also, it’s important to teach children skills like optimistic thinking, and to trust in themselves and in the world. Finally, I think it’s important for today's parents to remember that even our children (especially our children) need some 'down time' to explore their interests and the world, to learn more about themselves, to form friendships, and to just be children. All of these things can help us do what all parents strive to do: raise children who grow into happy and healthy adults.
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