Signs Of Stress In Children And How You Can Help

There are different reasons why a child can be stressed and they can either be negative or positive. Negative stress is the ones that occur as a result of a bad situation, such as when the child is required to adapt to a new condition due to parent separation, death of a family, illness, etc. While positively, a child can be stressed due to trying to adjust to a new home or environment, starting a new activity, etc. Any kind of stress can affect how a child behaves or think, therefore, it is your responsibility to help your child through it.

Causes of stress in children

Parent separation
Adapting to a new environment
Financial difficulties or other forms of instability in the family
Poor school performance or academic pressure
Watching scary movies or reading scary books
Bullying or having low self-esteem among peers
Experiencing new or recurring fears
Stopping or starting a new activity
Fighting with your spouse in their presence
Death of a family, illness, etc.

Signs of stress in children

Stress in children may not be easily recognized by their parents. However, there are certain behavioral or physical changes that parents should look out for.

Behavioral (or emotional) changes

These are usually not easy to recognize, so it requires the parents to keep a close eye on the child. They include;

Mood swings
Changes in sleep pattern
Temper tantrum
Lack of concentration
Stubbornness
Withdrawal from family and friends
Unwillingness to go to school

Physical changes

Physical changes caused by stress may include;

Bedwetting
Stomach pain
Nightmares
Headaches
Sleep disturbances
Changes in eating habit such as decreased appetite

Helping your child with stress

Being stressed can do a child more harm than good, it can affect their self-esteem and change how they feel or act among their peers. Study your child to know what causes it and what solution you can proffer.