Ways to Help Kids Deal With Stress

Are you concerned about your child's ability to manage stress? Are you unsure how to assist your child as he or she deals with anxiety? Use these tricks to train your child so he will know how to handle stress.

Have your child go for a walk when stressed. When your child walks away from a stressful situation, he is simply empowering himself to disenage from a bad situation. Children have to learn how to deal with that fight or flight stress response they feel when stressed out. Teach your child to walk away; this alone is an empowering act because it teaches your child to physically remove himself from the situation. Then teach your child to walk or run until he feels better. Physical activity releases stress and is an appropriate response in many environments (recess, gym, at home, outside with friends).

Teach your child how to express and deal with stress through the use of art. Many children find it difficult to verbally describe a stressful situation, but they are able to vent via creative expression. Give your child some art supplies and do some art together such a "emotional painting", where you paint a picture that depicts how you feel at the moment. Let your child go in whatever direction she feels led, without telling her how to do it. She may draw a cartoon strip of something that happened at school or paint an abstract of bright colors. Make sure your child knows you are available to talk, but don't push it.

Help your child learn the therapeutic power of the written word. Many children feel safer writing in a diary than talking about stressful experiences. Buy a notebook just for you and your child, and start writing notes to one another in it. When your child seems particularly stressed, get out the notebook and write to him, asking him to write back about anything he's feeling. Use the journal to promote healthy venting and communication. Your child may feel safe to express volatile feelings through this safe medium, which will help the two of you get closer.

Parenting can be tough, so remind yourself that you are teaching your child how to deal with stress as an adult.