1. Prepare Children for Stressful Life Events
While adults may not perceive certain events as stressful, they may be daunting to children. Routine visits to the dentist, blood tests and new babysitters are all anxiety-provoking for kids. As parents or caregivers, it is our job to help children manage anxiety by anticipating their stress responses and helping them prepare for stressful events. If your child must have lab work or medical tests, for example, sit down and explain the process to him. You may find that role-playing the situation increases his comfort level. Remember to reassure your child that it is natural to feel concern or anxiety, and remind him that discussing his feelings can help relieve stress.
2. Encourage Open Family Communication
Plan a weekly family meeting, schedule family days and spend time with your children on a one-on-one basis. Studies point to the benefit of simple things like eating dinner together. Children who participate in regular family meals are more academically successful and less likely to develop mental-health issues and substance addiction. When children feel comfortable communicating with parents and siblings, they are less likely to internalize the harmful effects of stressors.
3. Model Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Set an example for children by showing them productive ways to deal with stress. When kids see you exercising, laughing, going for a walk or taking a mental timeout, they'll learn to mirror these positive-coping techniques. If you handle stress by becoming physically or verbally abusive, turning to addictive substances or repressing your feelings, children are likely to do the same.
4. Inspire Children to Use Creative Outlets for Personal Expression
Since creativity can bring healing and self-awareness, many children benefit from expressing their feelings through art, music or theater. Set aside an area where kids can play dress-up, get messy with clay, paints, markers and glue, or create music and sounds. Artistic expression offers an antidote to internal stress by allowing children to use creativity to explore deeper feelings.
5. Empower Children With Positive Thinking
Just like adults, children deal with daily helpings of self-doubt, criticism and negativity. Learning to cope with these experiences is critical to managing stress before it creates physical and emotional chaos. Remind children that they are in charge of their thoughts. Empower them by teaching them to stop negative self-talk in its tracks and replace it with a can-do attitude. Most importantly, teach your children to extend forgiveness and unconditional love to themselves and others.
