Dr LeCrone
01-03-2006, 11:59 AM
Adults live in a stressful world. With deadlines to meet, responsibilities to fulfill and meetings to attend, many adults complain of living in a harried world. We have accepted the association of stress and adulthood.
But an often overlooked victims of stress is the child. We do not have to look far to identify sources of stress for children. School activities may pile up on a youngster and cause him to feel burdened. Difficulties in the home setting, such as family conflict, sibling rivalry, even economic disadvantage, may be more than a child can cope with. Planned leisure time activities may not always produce relaxation. For instance, participation in organized sports activities and the competition therein, or a two-week vacation and the change of routine are potentially stress to some children.
Most often, children are able to adapt to stressful events and conditions. Most often, a parent can understand a child’s temporary moodiness resulting from obvious stressful conditions. Yet, there are many times when a child does not handle stress well. Unusual or disturbing behaviors may emerge and persist for a period of days or weeks.
Several common reactions to stress may be seen in a child’s behavior. Ten-year-old Susie, who has always been a good student and a well-disciplined, happy child, comes home from school one day with a note from her teacher stating that her grades are failing, she isn’t playing well with the other children and she is crying a lot.
A sign of stress that is relatively easy to spot is a change from a normal behavior pattern. A child under stress may change from a mild-mannered, easy-going youngster to one who is crabby and argumentative. Or, a child who has never been prone to fighting with others may suddenly become an aggressive child who bullies others. Parents often say, “My child has never acted this way before. He has always gotten along so well with other kids.”
Some stressed children may show signs of withdrawal. A youngster who previously displayed a normal level of interaction with others may passively refuse to participate in normal activities. He may choose to stay indoors on a sunny afternoon rather than play outside. Church activities or sport games may cease to appeal to him. He may continually rest his head on his desk at school and choose not to participate or complete his assignments.
Also at school, good grades may change quickly to bad grades, and information from teachers may note that the child’s behavior is not as acceptable as it has been in the past. Positive to negative school performance can indicate stress.
Headaches and stomachaches are frequently signals of psychological distress and may indicate the need for counseling. Changes in patterns of eating, sleeping or lack of interest in favorite pastimes may also signal the onset of stress in the child’s life.
When prolonged periods of stress are not alleviated, harmful side effects on the child, both emotionally and physically, may result.
Some suggestions that may be helpful in dealing with a child under stress are:
• Examine the family lifestyle to see if there is a patter of over commitment that is causing the child to be overly stimulated and involved in too many activities.
• Examine the family situation to see if there is a patter of negative and poor communication which shows up in lots of yelling and fighting between family members.
• Examine the type of communication between parents and child and see if there is great deal of negative communication. If so, alter this and emphasize a great deal of positive communication.
• Parents aware of stress symptoms and the various ways to help children need always to be available to their children to listen and to emphasize regular eating and sleeping patterns. Children will learn to cope with stress and become well-adjusted adults.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984
But an often overlooked victims of stress is the child. We do not have to look far to identify sources of stress for children. School activities may pile up on a youngster and cause him to feel burdened. Difficulties in the home setting, such as family conflict, sibling rivalry, even economic disadvantage, may be more than a child can cope with. Planned leisure time activities may not always produce relaxation. For instance, participation in organized sports activities and the competition therein, or a two-week vacation and the change of routine are potentially stress to some children.
Most often, children are able to adapt to stressful events and conditions. Most often, a parent can understand a child’s temporary moodiness resulting from obvious stressful conditions. Yet, there are many times when a child does not handle stress well. Unusual or disturbing behaviors may emerge and persist for a period of days or weeks.
Several common reactions to stress may be seen in a child’s behavior. Ten-year-old Susie, who has always been a good student and a well-disciplined, happy child, comes home from school one day with a note from her teacher stating that her grades are failing, she isn’t playing well with the other children and she is crying a lot.
A sign of stress that is relatively easy to spot is a change from a normal behavior pattern. A child under stress may change from a mild-mannered, easy-going youngster to one who is crabby and argumentative. Or, a child who has never been prone to fighting with others may suddenly become an aggressive child who bullies others. Parents often say, “My child has never acted this way before. He has always gotten along so well with other kids.”
Some stressed children may show signs of withdrawal. A youngster who previously displayed a normal level of interaction with others may passively refuse to participate in normal activities. He may choose to stay indoors on a sunny afternoon rather than play outside. Church activities or sport games may cease to appeal to him. He may continually rest his head on his desk at school and choose not to participate or complete his assignments.
Also at school, good grades may change quickly to bad grades, and information from teachers may note that the child’s behavior is not as acceptable as it has been in the past. Positive to negative school performance can indicate stress.
Headaches and stomachaches are frequently signals of psychological distress and may indicate the need for counseling. Changes in patterns of eating, sleeping or lack of interest in favorite pastimes may also signal the onset of stress in the child’s life.
When prolonged periods of stress are not alleviated, harmful side effects on the child, both emotionally and physically, may result.
Some suggestions that may be helpful in dealing with a child under stress are:
• Examine the family lifestyle to see if there is a patter of over commitment that is causing the child to be overly stimulated and involved in too many activities.
• Examine the family situation to see if there is a patter of negative and poor communication which shows up in lots of yelling and fighting between family members.
• Examine the type of communication between parents and child and see if there is great deal of negative communication. If so, alter this and emphasize a great deal of positive communication.
• Parents aware of stress symptoms and the various ways to help children need always to be available to their children to listen and to emphasize regular eating and sleeping patterns. Children will learn to cope with stress and become well-adjusted adults.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984