Are Your Kids More Stressed Than You Realize?

In this economy, everyone is stressed, including your kids. What you probably don't realize is how stressed your kids truly are. The American Psychological Association tells us that not only are our kids more stressed, we're so stressed that we are not noticing it about half the time. What's worse, kids don't handle stress as well as we do. They are much more likely to suffer headaches, sleeplessness and eating problems.

What to Do About It

The good news is that helping kids with stress is easy. We only need to listen, show our kids we understand their concerns and offer a hug as reassurance. Do not simply tell them, “Everything will be okay,” unless you know that to be true. In uncertain situations, be honest and tell them that whatever happens, you will get through it together.

Listen Carefully 

When your child expresses concerns over finances, school or growing up, listen carefully and repeat back what you hear so your child knows he is heard. Be truthful with your child about your situation, keeping things age-appropriate. Ask your child what he thinks might happen. Children assume the worst and voicing anxiety is a big part of letting it go. Be sure to follow with some playful activity, a quick tickle or dancing to your kids favorite music. This helps further relieve the tension and helps kids bounce back.

Helping Teens 

Another way you can help your kids handle stress is by giving them healthy types of stress that help them understand what is truly important in life. Teens benefit enormously from Outward Bound programs in which they are tasked to complete demanding outdoor challenges. This sense of accomplishment and understanding of what “hard” really means stays with them for life. Children who come out of these programs face obstacles in life and think back to their experiences with Outward Bound. A friend's teen, when returning from Outward Bound said, “If I can do this, I can do anything.” That kind of confidence goes a long way in reducing stress.

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