Many children experience a great deal of stress associated with school, sports, friends and family. Children and teens often do not have the life experiences and critical thinking skills to help them appropriately deal with these stressors and as a result experience breakdowns, outbursts or physical ailments.

Trying to establish a sense of self in adolescence can be very stressful for children, as it is a time when they are usually transitioning between grade schools, going through puberty or dealing with the pain of bullying. Your child may not be expressing their stress to you, so here are some signs that your child is struggling.

    •    Trouble sleeping
    •    Headaches
    •    Frequent stomach aches
    •    Flares of anger
    •    Anxiety
    •    Causing problems at school
    •    Blaming others when negative things happen to them

If your child is dealing with stress the best thing to do is help them build resilience and healthy self-esteem. This can be accomplished by providing them with a sense of being valued and respected. Listening to your child’s problems and concerns is the easiest way to make them feel important and you don’t always need to offer advice or a solution to the issue. Build a support network within your family and a positive home environment where your child can openly and freely discuss what’s on their mind.

When your child comes to you with a complex issue they are struggling with, don’t solve the problem for them, but instead talk with them and brainstorm ways to solve the problem. Help your child to find positive aspects in negative situations and teach them to have a more optimistic outlook.

Here are some additional coping strategies for you and your child.

Ways to help your child cope
    •    Listen
    •    Help build their self-esteem through positive encouragement
    •    Talk them through a problematic situation and develop a solution together
    •    Give them a hug
    •    Daily exercise and plenty of laughter
    •    Maintain a well balanced diet
    •    Every night have your child tell you three positive things that happened during the day
    •    Provide them with a loving and supportive home environment
    •    Maintain open channels of communication with your child
    •    Help them stay organized to avoid getting behind in school work

Additionally, a parent’s own mental health has a lot to do with the mental welfare of their child. If you are dealing with large amounts of your own stress, be sure to take care of yourself and act as a positive role model for your child.

Additional Resources
    •    Helping Children Cope With Stress
    •    Helping Kids Cope With Stress
    •    Helping Teenagers with Stress
    •    Tips on Teaching Your Teen How to Deal with Stress
    •    Teens and Stress:  Who Has Time For It?
    •    Ideas for Helping Kids Deal with Stress
    •    Ten Tips for Helping Children Deal with Stress
    •    Solutions for Stressors in Children
    •    How To Help Your Child Handle Stress
    •    Helping Your Child Deal With Stress