Helping Kids Handle School Stress
Education is of the utmost importance for everyone. Without it, it’s difficult to lead a healthy, happy and fruitful life. As we grow up, school is inevitably our second home. We read, write, calculate and learn essential social skills. Furthermore, we grow and develop our understanding of how to be productive members of society.
In each academic year, children must be punctual, abide by rules, and always try to succeed in their work. As useful as this is, it can be very overwhelming and trigger a lot of stress for them. They may even experience bullying, which would only accelerate their stress level.
As caregivers, it’s our duty to alleviate this as much as possible so that they can have a happy upbringing. Scroll down for a few tips on how to do this.
Prepare Properly
One of the most daunting aspects of school is testing. In certain years, children are faced with exams to evaluate their target levels. Naturally, they feel worried about this because they aren’t used to exam conditions and may also be afraid of not knowing how to answer a question. It’s an innate response to feel fearful of being tested and this is one of the top triggers of anxiety in academia. Luckily, children can be helped with this by completing school specific tests at home. Not only does this make them accustomed to tests but it also shows them what to expect when the real tests are done at their school.
Identify Issues
Take the first step toward solving the problem by communicating effectively with the child. This involves asking them direct questions, such as “What are you worried about?” or “How can I help?”. If the child is willing to vocalize their problems, this is the quickest way to a resolution. If you validate their feelings, they will feel like they can relate and will be more likely to be honest.
Rely on Routines
Many children feel comfortable when they have a regular routine that promotes healthy habits and provides structure. This way, they learn to follow a certain pattern of behavior that revolves around timing and follows a consistent schedule.
When it comes to sleep, having a routine will ensure that children get enough sleep because they will always go to bed on time and therefore have the chance to get the recommended 9-11 hours. Incorporating a wholesome regime will greatly benefit the welfare of a child and reduce their stress levels immensely.
Routines will also teach children to organize their daily duties and get them done on time before they relax. Tasks such as completing homework or cleaning their room will get done at a certain time if they have a repetitive timetable. This helps them face chores that they would otherwise put off and feel anxious about.
Having a routine also helps to make eating healthy at conventional times possible. When there is a certain time and a meal plan, it makes mealtimes easier to manage.
Enjoy Exercise
It’s proven that regularly doing an hour of moderate exercise a day such as sports games, swimming, or walking can help children to relax and increases their ability to concentrate on studies. This is because physical activity releases endorphins in the body and increases serotonin levels; it’s definite that exercise is a tried and tested way to reduce stress, not just in children but adults also.
Hopefully, the simple points above will be useful when addressing childhood anxiety. If their struggles are getting worse, it’s important to reassure them and perhaps get them support from a doctor if deemed necessary. Always promote positivity and optimum health, for yourself and the child.
