Stress Management For Children: Causes | Signs | Relaxation Techniques

While stress is a part of adult life today, unfortunately, it has also increasingly become a part of children's lives. Therefore, stress management for children is quite an important thing for parents to focus on. 



Stress in children comes from many factors and can be best addressed by knowing its causes and then helping your child feel better and relaxed.

Why are Children Stressed Today?

Consider all the stressors that can cause anxiety in your children:



• Noise, traffic
• Electronic stimulation from computers, cell phones, and TVs
• Juggling work responsibility 
• Families in our busy 24-hour society
• School and after-school activities
• The pressure to succeed
• Family conflicts or changes
• Several other factors that can lead to anxiety

“10-20 percent of school-aged children suffer from anxiety symptoms”

What are the Signs of Stress in Children?

If there are significant changes in your child's life, parents should pay particular attention and look for possible signs of childhood stress such as:



• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Mood swings
• Changes in behavior
• Sleep problems
• Difficulty concentrating in school

How to Help Your Child Deal with Stress: Top Stress Management Techniques

Things you can do about stress management for children:

1. Reduce & Prevent Stress from Your Child’s Live

• Understand your child's emotions: When children seem sad or afraid, tell them you have noticed they are sad or scared.
• Be completely respectful: Take your child seriously and listen carefully. Listening is all you need to do sometimes.
• Develop trust: Let your child know that mistakes are a learning experience.
• Be supportive: Listen to your child's concerns. If necessary, let your child try to solve their problems. 

• Show love, care, and warmth. You should often cuddle your baby.
• Have clear expectations without being too much strict and let your child know cooperation and socialization are essential than competition.
• Don't over-schedule your child with several activities.
• Be aware of what your child wants.

2. Develop Positive Coping Skills for Stress & Anxiety Relief

It is important to help children learn positive coping skills. These skills are often carried over into adult life.

• Set a good example: Stay calm and do good deeds in front of your children; they will notice and even begin to follow you. Make plans to reduce stress and share them with your family.
• Teach your child about the consequences: Children must learn the good and bad consequences of their actions.
• Promote rational thinking: Help your children understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
• End the power struggle by giving children the control to choose: Allow your children to make decisions within your family framework.

• Think positive and laugh: The ability to laugh and see the bright side of life is essential to raise a happy and resilient child.
• Dream and visualize: Experts say that imagining positive things makes you feel happy and helps you change your focus.
• Encourage them to sleep and eat well: Getting enough sleep and eating healthy is a must for every happy child and even valuable to you!

3. Get the Stress Out: Top Techniques to De-Stress Children

The best stress management ideas vary from person to person. Try to follow some of these ideas to see which one works best for your child:

• Exercise or Sports: Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. For children, this means walking, cycling, playing outside, and individual or team sports.

• Walk or visit your local playground together: Being outdoors in the natural world has calming effects.
• Writing or drawing: Children can be helped by writing or drawing about those things.

• Listen to calm music: it's a delightful way to calm the busy little mind, relax the muscles, and make the child feel optimistic about life.
• Meditate and focus on deep breathing: A feeling of complete relaxation can be achieved with this simple breathing technique.

• Take breaks and relax: Make sure there is still time for play and disconnect from routine during a busy family schedule.
• Have quality family time: Try to fit some time into everyone's busy schedule, and you will all be sure to feel the benefits.

We hope these techniques will help relieve stress and anxiety in your children.

Stress Management for Children – Takeaway

You and your child will find an easy and free way to connect every day. Choose activities that you like and enjoy.

Relaxing, volunteering together, or just messing up will bring you and your child closer!

f you're looking for fun activities and exercise programs for your kids and teens reach out to us at Gantry Kids & Teens in New York. We're looking forward to working with you and your kids. Whether a novice or elite athlete, we got you covered with classes, after school, camps, the occasional Saturday night, private training or even celebrating a special event. We’re Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today! Contact us today.