Expert / 5 February, 2019 / My Baba

Top Five Tips to Help Children Deal with Stress

Downtime

Start spending time without over scheduling activities. Allow children time to talk and unwind. Ask them what makes them happy and what worries them.

Play

Play should be without pressure. Combine with outdoor activities for example simple activities like riding a bike, exploring the outdoors.

Make sleep a priority

Create an environment that facilitates sleep. Keep electronic devices, mobile phones and TV out of a child’s bedroom. Reduce exposure to blue light from electronic devices. Consider blackout curtains.

Listen to their body

Teach children to listen to their bodies. For example allow them to listen to their heart beating or their pulse racing. Point out that breathing rate sometimes increases when we’re excited or have run a race.

For example explain it is perfectly normal for our hearts to beat a little faster when we encounter new experiences or a balloon bursting.

Fear of making mistakes

Most children will pick up on a grown-ups stress (for example that of a carer parent or teacher. For many children a great deal of stress comes from fear of making a mistake or letting their parents or grown-ups  down. Help children understand that it’s okay to make a mistake. Parents and teachers should be aware that children pick up on their fears and anxieties and it’s best to manage these in a consistent way.

If you feel your child is suffering from a high degree of stress or an anxiety disorder consult your GP who may refer you to a specialist. Ways of dealing with stress vary with each circumstance and each child. For example an activity that may be therapeutic for one child and may cause anxiety in another

For bereavement & suicidal thoughts consult an expert immediately.

Article by Dr Rubina Mian & Omar Mian authors of The Stress Goblin’s Hat – an engaging picture book for children aged 3-7 created by experts help children to identify and cope with stress.