Ways to Help Kids Deal With Stress

Mind is All

If you have a child who is easily stressed out, you will benefit from learning stress relief tips for kids. Use these suggestions to come up with ideas as to how to help your child deal with stress.

Try dancing. Children need to be active, especially when they’ve been stressed out all day. Try putting on dance music and getting the family dancing. The more active you both can get, the better.

Give your child something to squeeze. Stress balls aren’t just for busy executives. Buy your child a squishy stress ball and teach him to squeeze it when he’s upset or angry.

Try a gentle backrub. When you give your child a massage, you're communicating how much you love her and want to help. Give lots of hugs as well. Try turning bedtime into snuggle time.

Turn the lights out. When stress is intense, your child may not be able to tell you how she feels while looking at you, but she may be able to talk once the lights are out and you're sitting at the foot of her bed. Listen, ask leading questions, and be careful not to judge. Aim to become your child's "safe place" emotionally.

Play a tune. Play soothing music in the background as your child does homework or reads. Music affects our heart rate and mood; playing the right music may help your child let go of that ball of stress she’s kept clenched inside her all day.

Laugh it out. There's even such a thing as laughter therapy! Make jokes, or if you aren’t funny, buy a joke book. Find ways to laugh with your child, even if you have to get creative.

When times get tough, remember this: you are teaching your children essential life skills what will help them cope with stress forever.