How to Lower Stress Levels in Kids
By Genevieve Cunningham
When most people think about stress, they imagine adults. Work, families, finances … it's definitely true that adults suffer from ample amounts of stress. But in today's world, kids are also plagued with excessive stress. Kids and teenagers have more distractions and peer-related stress than ever before. And the worst part is that they rarely have the maturity or experience to know how to deal with it. To help keep your kids mentally and physically well, take a look at these tips for helping them manage stress.
Give Plenty of Free Time
Imagine being a kid for just a second. While you might first think about the lack of bills and responsibility, there is a downside … and that is being told what to do all of the time. Kids have very few choices and quite a few demands. That can be really stressful. Make sure that your children have plenty of free time. Time to play, time to explore, time to figure things out for themselves. Free time allows children the opportunity to grow and learn, and it also gives them a chance to mellow out.
Have Real Conversations
Kids are people. Sometimes adults forget that kids have strong emotions and opinions and can think for themselves. If you want to lower your kids’ stress levels, talk to them, and more importantly, listen to them. Have the real conversations, the tough ones. While it might feel stressful in the moment, it is likely to lower the stress that your children feel. Why? Because children need to be heard and understood, and by having real conversations, they’ll feel that sense of belonging and acceptance that they need.
Get Professional Help
Some kids feel stress more intensely than others. And you know what? That’s OK. If you can’t seem to help your kid feel less stress, get them some professional help. Take them to a counselor or therapist or somewhere where they can get some advice for taking control of their lives and emotions. Sometimes all it takes is the right approach, and your kid may begin moving in a better and healthier direction.
Life is just stressful. Whether you’re 10 or 100, things in life can feel overwhelming and chaotic. Use these tips to help the kids in your life feel less stress and more calm and control. With a little work and persistence, you’ll have your whole family moving toward better health and less stress before you know it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Anaheim, Calif.