Do you want to prevent your child from becoming a victim of childhood stress? Do not miss this reading.
It is no secret that stress has become the evil of the 21st century. The increasingly problematic routine exposes us to situations that require maximum effort, both physical and emotional.
And if it is so difficult for us adults to adapt to the many pressures that arise in everyday life, can you imagine how complicated it should be for a child to deal with such problems?
That's right, everyday demands can also affect little ones and cause stress in children.
Often, the family cannot identify the signs that their children are stressed and even confuse the negative behavior of children with tantrums or abuse. And that can have important long-term consequences.
Do you want to prevent your child from becoming a victim of childhood stress? These are the main factors that cause stress in children and how to best address this problem!
Evidence that a child is stressed
Child stress can manifest itself through physical or psychological symptoms that have no apparent reason. The most common are:
Physical symptoms
*Stomach ache and diarrhea;
*Headache;
*Sickness
*Cold and sweaty hands;
*Lack or excess appetite;
*Nighttime bedwetting (wetting the bed);
*Stuttering;
*Grind your teeth;
*Nervous tic;
*Muscle tension;
*Hyperactivity
Psychological symptoms
*Insomnia
*Aggressiveness;
*Impatience;
*Disobedience;
*Insecurity
*Concern
*Anxiety
*Difficulty to socialize;
*Hypersensitivity;
*Nightmares;
*Fear
*Excessive crying
It is important to remember that several symptoms occur together. When they happen in isolation, they cannot be interpreted as stress with precision.
It is crucial to keep in mind that each child has their own way of externalizing stress, which depends on their ability to work, age and family behavior.
Main causes of stress in children*
It is normal for a family to want the best for their child, such as obtaining excellent grades in school, being good at sports, doing activities for the future, such as English classes, among others. Of course, encouraging a child to participate in something is very positive, but it is essential to be careful not to overload it.
Exaggerating the amount of responsibilities delegated to the child, making excessive demands and criticism leads to emotional uncontrollability and stress. In addition, changes in the family context and problems at home can also affect it.
Check out some examples:
*Fights;
*Divorce
*Death of a family member;
*Physical violence;
*Overprotection;
*Disrespect for the child's rhythm;
*Intimidation
*Change of school or city.
Consequences of childhood stress
Not treating childhood stress creates a number of problems. The child's immune system can be affected, weakening the body and reducing its resistance. Therefore, it will be vulnerable to contagious diseases and the development of infections, allergies, ulcers, skin problems, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis and obesity.
In addition, a child who does not learn to deal with this type of tension can become an adult vulnerable to stress.
Ways to avoid this problem
The first step is to reflect on the child's lifestyle and make changes in his routine to identify and mitigate the triggers of stress and delegate only tasks that are compatible with his learning pace and age range.
One point that deserves attention is to remember that your child needs time to study, play and rest. In addition, it is essential that the family be present in the child's daily life and values the moments they spend together.
In addition, it is necessary to learn to criticize constructively and focused on behavior, without neglecting the child, explain the problem and suggest solutions.
However, if the reason for stress is difficult to solve, such as death in the family, the best answer may be to help the child strengthen in this situation, for example, seeking the help of psychologists.
The family should always be attentive to children's behavior. Learning to listen to what they have to say is the best way to discover the problem and prevent them from suffering childhood stress.