How to identify that your child is under stress?

Stress is a body’s way to respond to any kind of threat or unwanted circumstances. In terms of psychology, stress is a feeling of strain and pressure. Positive stress is good for performance, but over stress can be harmful to your body. Our kids can feel this stress too. Generally, we have a perception that children are free from any sort of anxiety or stress, but this perception is actually wrong. Even your children can undergo some stress and it is a responsibility of a parent to identify the signs of stress in your child.

If your child is under stress, then you may observe some changes in his emotional and physical aspects.

• Change in Emotions / Behaviour

Young children find difficult to understand this situation and hence unable to communicate their feelings to their parents. This leads to the change in their behaviour. They feel irritated, behaves moody, and do not indulge in their hobbies too. They start complaining about the negligible matters and cry a lot. Children often show negative behaviour in school if they are under stress. Their sleeping patterns and eating habits also change if stress is annoying them. When a child is under stress, he may not be able to control his emotions. He may sound very aggressive and stubborn while interacting with others.  He may also appear to be worrisome most of his time.
If you observe any behavioural or emotional changes in your kid, then it is always good to discuss with your child and take necessary steps.

• Feeling too sick

If your child is complaining about being physically unwell or of headaches majorly during any specific situation, it might be a sign of a stress, which is going on in his mind. Stress affects the physical aspects of not only an adult but also of a child.

How can parents help?
Parents can help their children to respond positively while in stress. Parents can do the following:

• Parents can give their children an open environment, where their children can speak freely to their heart.
• An importance to a family time like dinner, an outing during the weekends, etc. should be given as it encourages the bonding between the parents and children. 
• Listen to your children. Sometimes parents do not want to listen to their children, which causes stress in children.
• Encourage physical activity like playing football together, cycling, etc. Physical activity relieves stress.
• If you notice that despite several activities stress is not leaving your child, then contact your doctor to seek an expert advice.

Children experience stress if they feel that they are not capable enough to respond in that situation appropriately. Therefore, the parents have to play a major role in boosting the confidence of their children and always being concerned about their children’s behaviour and attitude.

Author~ Akansha Bansal

Lives with a notion “SIMPLE LIVING, HIGH THINKING” and have an optimistic approach towards life. Always eager to learn new things. She is the founder of a Parenting website called "Budding Star".

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