Dr LeCrone
05-21-2006, 10:02 PM
Some stress in a child’s life may be caused by the developmental stage that the child is in. Parents should consider these stages:
• The terrible twos.
The terrible twos are often accompanied by temper tantrums and a great deal of negativism. This, in turn, can produce stress particularly if the parents react to the child’s negative behaviors without considering the “age appropriateness” of these behaviors. Older siblings often contribute to the stress of this period.
• Adolescence.
Rebelliousness and even antisocial behaviors displayed by adolescents, along with the peer pressure that comes during this stage of development, can produce a great deal of stress within the family.
Understanding what the child is likely to go through psychologically is important and helps determine a psychologically healthy way for the parent to respond to these behaviors. Consistent guidelines often reduce stress.
• Sexual maturity.
Children frequently encounter a great deal of uncertainty, self-doubt and even guilt during the period of time when they begin to sexually mature. Parents who had inadequate information during their own adolescence often contribute to the child’s stress. Resulting stress can be damaging.
• Young adulthood.
College-age children often experience stress as they try for total independence. By necessity, however, they must receive financial help and other assistance from their parents.
Somehow many parents seem to believe that psychological problems such as anxiety and depression are reserved for adults. These and many other psychological difficulties that appear in adulthood also can be found in children and must therefore by considered a part of the child’s total health condition.
Understanding and wanting to do something about childhood stress is certainly the goal of most concerned parents. Not all obstacles and situations can be removed or even changed, but some kind of modification is usually possible. What may be stressful to one child is not necessarily bothersome to another.
It is the manner in which the child perceives the situation that determines the stressfulness of the particular situation. There may be a different tolerance for the stressfulness of each situation that varies according to the age and personality of the child.
Next week I will discuss causes of stress in children and signals that parents will receive from children under stress.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1985
• The terrible twos.
The terrible twos are often accompanied by temper tantrums and a great deal of negativism. This, in turn, can produce stress particularly if the parents react to the child’s negative behaviors without considering the “age appropriateness” of these behaviors. Older siblings often contribute to the stress of this period.
• Adolescence.
Rebelliousness and even antisocial behaviors displayed by adolescents, along with the peer pressure that comes during this stage of development, can produce a great deal of stress within the family.
Understanding what the child is likely to go through psychologically is important and helps determine a psychologically healthy way for the parent to respond to these behaviors. Consistent guidelines often reduce stress.
• Sexual maturity.
Children frequently encounter a great deal of uncertainty, self-doubt and even guilt during the period of time when they begin to sexually mature. Parents who had inadequate information during their own adolescence often contribute to the child’s stress. Resulting stress can be damaging.
• Young adulthood.
College-age children often experience stress as they try for total independence. By necessity, however, they must receive financial help and other assistance from their parents.
Somehow many parents seem to believe that psychological problems such as anxiety and depression are reserved for adults. These and many other psychological difficulties that appear in adulthood also can be found in children and must therefore by considered a part of the child’s total health condition.
Understanding and wanting to do something about childhood stress is certainly the goal of most concerned parents. Not all obstacles and situations can be removed or even changed, but some kind of modification is usually possible. What may be stressful to one child is not necessarily bothersome to another.
It is the manner in which the child perceives the situation that determines the stressfulness of the particular situation. There may be a different tolerance for the stressfulness of each situation that varies according to the age and personality of the child.
Next week I will discuss causes of stress in children and signals that parents will receive from children under stress.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1985