half of PLATO ANSWER
Here are some strategies that parents and caregivers can use to help children manage stress:
Prevent Stress by Leading a Healthy Lifestyle
Encourage children to exercise regularly: Physical activity helps relax muscular tension that arises from stress. Exercise also helps a child remain physically fit, which can help the child fight stress. However, for exercise to be an efficient tool in combating stress, children need to exercise on a regular basis. Children should receive encouragement to participate in sports and indoor games as a form of exercise. However, parents should explain to their children that the purpose of sports is to enjoy oneself and that winning is not the only objective.
Encourage children to develop hobbies: Parents can help children develop an interest in a particular hobby that they find pleasurable. When children experience excessive stress, parents can show them how to divert their thinking from stressful stimuli and occupy themselves with pleasurable activities.
Ensure children have enough sleep: Parents should ensure that their children get enough sleep at night. Maintaining a regular bedtime and routine can help achieve this. Getting enough rest is important to ensure that children feel refreshed and mentally fit, which will help them cope with stressful situations with a clear mind.
Develop healthy eating habits in children: Parents should provide children with a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Proper nutrition is an important factor in controlling stress. A child’s diet should not include junk foods that are high in fat, salt, and refined or processed sugar.
Build self-esteem in children: Self-esteem gives children the confidence to deal with various situations in life. Parents can encourage, praise, and appreciate their children so they feel motivated and can face any challenge with confidence. Parents should be supportive and reassuring when a child faces a stressful situation.
Teach children how to handle criticism: Everyone faces criticism in life. If a person is unable to face criticism, the criticism will create stress. Children face a lot of criticism from peers (through teasing) as well as from adults (by way of feedback). Parents can help children accept criticism by teaching them that no one is perfect and that we can all learn from our mistakes.
Manage Stress Head-on
Prepare children for potentially stressful situations: Parents and caregivers can identify a potential stressful situation and role-play with their child on how to deal with the situation. For example, if a child worries about performing on stage, the parent can encourage the child to perform in front of the family or extended family to overcome this nervousness. The parent can also teach the child to look just above the heads of the audience, which will help the child avoid any distracting facial expressions in the audience while also giving the appearance that the child is making eye contact with the audience.
Help children reframe stressful situations: Parents can help children view situations from different perspectives. Often, a child’s stress may only be perceived stress. If the child changes perception, then it is possible that the child will realize that there was nothing to stress about in the first place.
Help children develop an awareness of the signs of stress: The human body physically exhibits signs of stress. Teaching children to identify these signs can help them become aware that they are under stress and help them deal with it appropriately. Children may exhibit different symptoms that include sweaty palms, nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, frustration, a tight throat, and changes in sleep patterns.
Teach children relaxation skills: Relaxation skills help release muscular tension built up due to stress. Parents should help children develop these skills and encourage their daily use so the children can deal with the negative effects of stress on their bodies.
Be a role model for children: Finally, remember that children learn best by example. Parents can help children deal with stress by demonstrating how they themselves deal with such situations in their own lives. All caregivers should demonstrate a positive attitude when dealing with their own stress so their children can learn the correct way of dealing with stress in their lives.