During the school year, many children are expected to do their homework, chores, maintain good attitudes, and do their best. This is certainly not unreasonable. However, when you figure in extracurricular activities and much-needed time with friends, is there any time left to just be kids?
Children are often inundated with so much stuff that they get little time to just relax, daydream, and, God forbid, play. When it is time for play, many well-meaning parents substitute the latest electronic gizmos and gadgetry for their one-on-one time. Face it, with this high-pressure society, we're just too busy to actually spend much time together. But as adults, are our children more likely to remember the latest Nintendo Game or their parents taking time out of their busy lives to share a story, help with homework, or just listen?
Yes, children need to be responsible, well-rounded citizens, but they also need to be children before they, too, are encumbered with schedules, meetings, and even more of that nasty "s" word: stress. It's not likely that they will ever again be allowed the freedom to just grow and learn while others care for them and oversee all the important aspects of their well being.
The obvious question: How do we know if our children are stressed-out? There are numerous symptoms, many of which mirror other ailments, such as depression. These are just a few that you should be aware of:
Lack of interest in things they enjoyed previously. This could be friendships, sports, etc.
Behavioral issues. Children may start blaming others for their problems, refuse to go to school, or withdraw entirely. They may regress and start wetting the bed.
Physical signs. Headaches, nausea, and fatigue can all be stress-related. Tension headaches aren't limited to adults.
Once you've determined that your child is indeed under stress, what next? First, determine whether it is a considerable problem that is interfering with his or her life. The occasional butterflies before an exam are totally normal, but to throw-up just thinking about math problems is not.
Here are some of the basic responses to treating childhood stress. Note that they bear a strong resemblance to those treatments you'd prescribe an adult:
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