Overland Chiropractor Reviews: Are Your Kids Stressed Out?

By: Dr. Robert Patterson

As our kids return to school, we need to be aware that they face stress everyday just as we do. As adults, we are too often caught up in our own financial, job, and relational stresses that we forget about the stressors that our kids face. Have you ever faced a stressful situation and thought to yourself, “I wish I were a kid again?” You look back to a time when you had less responsibility, and maybe mom and dad were there to help you. If you are honest with yourself, are you looking at the past through rose-colored glasses? Are you forgetting the things that caused fear and hurt and that still hold you back today?

When the new school year begins, many kids will feel anxious about a number of things. There are new teachers, homework, tests, new rules, and maybe new processes to be learned, like how lunch works. Riding the bus sounds simple to us, but to a child it may be stressful. They may worry about being on time, finding the right bus number, where they are going to sit, someone teasing them, and getting off at the right stop.

Our kids are expected to perform at high levels academically, as well as athletically. I believe participation in sports is a great thing and teaches many life lessons. Unfortunately, I have seen too many parents push their kids past a reasonable point of achievement. When sports or other activities cease to be fun for your child, it is time to re-evaluate the importance placed on extra-curricular activities.

As kids get older, peer pressure increases, and self-esteem issues become more prevalent. They are exposed to commercials, “reality shows” (which I hope are not so real), television shows, and internet sites that glorify unacceptable behavior and a false sense of body image.

Let’s not forget the stress that day-to-day “drama” brings on, particularly with girls. As the father of two girls, I have heard stories that shock me. When I read things that kids have written on Facebook, I wonder if their parents have a clue as to what is going on in their kids’ lives. While I love technology, it has made it easier for kids and adults alike to be cruel to one another.

The more I think about it, the happier I am that I am not a kid anymore. I don’t want to leave you depressed. There are things that you can do to help your children deal with the stresses of life. The things you teach them now will help them later in life.

Tips for helping your kids deal with stress:
1. Talk with your kids. Don’t expect that they will tell you everything that is bothering them. It may take some coaxing on your part. Ask your child specifically if she is having difficulty finding the right bus or whom she sits with.
2. Educate yourself about Learning Styles. If you have a child struggling in school, he may learn and organize differently than you do. With our children, I learned this the hard way. You and the teachers may have to come up with different strategies to help your child.
3. Be an advocate for your child. Work with the school counselor and teachers if your child is getting behind. It puts tremendous stress on your child when she feels she has gotten in so deep that she can’t get out. As your children get older, teach them to advocate for themselves first, but never be afraid to get involved. You, not the teacher or school, are ultimately responsible for your child
4. Encourage kids to be the best they can be. Realize we all have limitations. It is okay to set the bar high in academics or sports. People often need to be pushed to reach their full potential. You want to push your child but not break him. Only 3% of high school basketball players continue to play in college. Only .02-.03% of high school basketball players ever make it to the professional level.
5. Monitor what your kids watch. Discuss the problems with behavior you see on television or elsewhere. Make teachable moments out of daily life and behaviors you observe.
6. Monitor your kids’ Facebook if they have one. While kids are able to use technology, they are often not very smart about what they put out there for the world to see. If you let your kids have a Facebook, you are foolish to not keep up with what they are posting, as well as their friends or other peers. Your child could be getting bullied or be involved in dangerous behavior that you are not aware of. Burying your head in the sand will only create problems for you and your child.

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This entry was posted on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 10:47 am and is filed under Emotional Balance, Stress Reduction, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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