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Stress and Your Child

© Mary M. Alward

Traditionally, stress has been divided into two groups - external and internal. External stress factors include exposure to arguments, domestic violence, bullying, being urged to hurry, loss of something treasured, loss of a pet, inconsistency in daily life and peer pressure. Internal stress is hunger, fatigue, over or under stimulation, temperature change, pain of any kind, sensitivity to noise, excessive crowding, change in family (divorce or separation) and separation anxiety.

Whether we realize it or not, our children are exposed to stress on a daily basis. There are times they need help to cope with stress. If they don't have a release, they can become overwhelmed. This can lead to melt downs or inappropriate behavior.

Stress in children varies, depending on the child's life experience and his/her development level. Children under the age of six, and those with learning disorders and developments disorders are less cable of coping with stress than older children.

A child can learn from a small amount of stress in daily life. However, if a child is exposed to situations that cause him/her excessive stress, the negative impact can be profound. Example: If a child is exposed to domestic violence on a regular basis, he/she would find a divorce/separation situation less stressful.

Negative stress affects children in every walk of life and in many different ways. It is especially difficult for children under ten to cope. Those who are male, have social disorders, are "difficult," or who were born premature are also more vulnerable. Children who live with domestic violence, in poverty, who live in the inner city where crime is rampant, and those who are bullied, are exposed to extremely high levels of stress on a continuous basis.

High stress levels can have many detrimental effects on young children, including, but not limited to, a change in brain chemistry and function and a higher risk of disease. Stress can lower a child's immune system, making him/her susceptible to colds, flu and childhood diseases.

Stress in children is almost always released by physical reaction. Excessive sweating, clammy palms, rocking, crying for no reason, temper tantrums or melt downs, stomachaches, headaches, nervousness, hair chewing, thumb sucking, bed wetting, fingernail biting, hair twisting and sleep disorders are all signs a child is overwhelmed. Depression, shyness, worrying, appetite change, and clinging are also signs of excessive stress levels in children.

Children adapt to stress in various ways, just as adults do. Behavior not normally exhibited by a child is a sure sign of excessive stress.

The copyright of the article Stress and Your Child in Canadian Health Care is owned by Mary M. Alward. Permission to republish Stress and Your Child in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.