“I am so stressed out this week! I had that big project due at work and my kid has been sick and of all things, and my basement flooded!”
I think we’ve all said that same thing before, in one form or another. Life can be stressful! And it never seems to fail that the stressors all seem to happen at once! Then we look over at our kids and think “I wish my life was as stress-free as it is for kids.” But the truth is they feel stress, too. Sure it may not look the same. There may not be as much on the line for them like there is for you and me. But they can still feel stressed.
And times like these, when the whole world is in upheaval, they are for sure feeling stressed.
Their parents are now their teachers, they don’t know when they will see their friends again. Playdates and competitions have been canceled. They can’t leave their house. It’s stressful! Even in the best of circumstances they can feel stressed. Weather changes (anyone else’s kids still refusing to wear socks? Just mine? OK, cool), long car rides for trips, holiday gatherings with family they don’t know that well, sicknesses. The list goes on. Their little minds can get stressed.
So how can you help your child when they are feeling stressed?
April is Stress Awareness Month. Here are some of our favorite tips for relieving stress in kids (and us, too!).
- Coloring – There is something about the slow concentrated effort of coloring that relaxes you and helps you to relieve stress. This is definitely one good for all ages.
- Blowing bubbles – Take a deep breath and exhale. Add some bubbles and the breathing exercise just becomes more fun. Very relaxing. And the added bonus – popping the bubbles helps, too!
- Discuss – For younger kids, simply having a conversation with them about what’s different can help them feel better. Older kids might actually enjoy being handed a journal to jot down their feelings. Talking about what’s bothering us is helpful no matter the age.
- Laughter – The saying “laughter is good for the soul” is a saying for a reason. A good ol’ belly laugh works wonders. Watch a funny movie, google jokes for kids, have a tickle fest. Whatever it is that gets your family giggling!
- Create a stress relief tool – I saw this once at a kids’ fair and have used it at home and at work! Creating the tool is fun in and of itself. It’s very simple. You take a pinwheel and tape a fake flower to the bottom. See, easy! When you’re feeling stressed, you smell the flower (inhale deeply) and then blow the pinwheel (exhale slowly). Similar to blowing bubbles, it gets you to focus on breathing without you realizing it. And it’s fun!
- Exercise – Go for a walk. Have a dance party. Play Simon Says. Getting the blood flowing is helpful in getting you to relax.
I hope these tips are helpful. What ways does your family cope with stress?
