Helping Your Children Manage Stress

By Donna Stark

Think about all of the stress that you are under at the moment. Now think of your children. Do they appear to be stressed as well? Stress for children comes from many different sources. School, relationships, social media, and sports are just a few examples, but if you add all of the extreme changes we have been dealing with lately, it is easy to understand why our children may be suffering. Unfortunately, we can't take away all of those triggers, but we most certainly can help them dial down their levels of stress with some simple strategies. Take a look.

Create Stability

When their world has been shaken and uncertainty is thick in the air, it is vital that you create a safe and stable environment for your children. Listen to their concerns, create a routine and stick with it, eat healthily, and give them plenty of opportunity for physical activity.

Monitor Phone Use

Is your child's phone beeping and buzzing with one notification after the next? Too much technology can potentially elevate the levels of stress in your children, so it's important to set limits and monitor how much time your children are using technology. Keep an eye on how much news they are watching and how often they engage with social media.

Spend Time Together

Time is one of the best stress-reducing gifts you can give your children. It's also the perfect opportunity for you to gauge how well they are doing. Go for a walk each day, watch a favorite movie, put a puzzle together, or spend the afternoon laughing over old photo albums. It won't be long before you see their bodies starting to relax.

Maintain a Consistent Bedtime Routine

Sleep deprivation can easily turn a stressful moment into a stressful day, so teach your children the importance of maintaining a healthy bedtime routine. Have them go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, turn their electronic devices off, and if they are struggling to unwind by the end of the day, encourage them to practice relaxation techniques.

Stress-Free Days

Managing stress is crucial for everyone and the best thing you can do, as head of your household, is to be the role model that your children need you to be. It may definitely be the challenge of a lifetime, but the rewards of doing so will be happy, healthy, and more relaxed children. And isn't that what every parent wishes for?

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Littleton, Colo.