Kids can get stressed out for a variety of different reasons. They may have a bit too much homework, or they may be feeling the pressure from appearing in a school play or playing in a big baseball game. Sometimes they have stress from dealing with this periodic dramatic episodes with friends. If your child is feeling stressed, as a parent, you want to try to alleviate that pressure as much as you can. You may consider calling the school for an extension on some homework assignments, helping kids with the lines for the play, or even trying to intervene with friend drama by picking up the phone and calling a parent yourself.
Nobody wants to see their child turned into a ball of nerves for whatever reason, but the fact is that a little bit of stress here and there is actually a good thing. Stress is actually beneficial in many ways, and here are just a few of the reasons you should consider letting your child ride the next little wave of life out on his or her own:
Learning From the Issue. Everyone, young and old alike, faces stresses in life. As we get older, there is no denying that our stresses become more real and pronounced, and often there is nobody to save us in our adult years. Kids can learn better how to deal with stress and how to stand on their own two feet when you let them roll with the more mild punches of life.
Stress Management. Of course, there is more to learn from dealing with stressful issues like friend dramas than just how to get along with friends on your own. Kids also need to learn how to live with the stress itself. After all, as adults we cannot just burst into tears or fly off the handle in a fit of rage when faced with stress. Instead, we put ourselves in our little time-out from the world by taking a walk around the block, taking a hot bath, or even taking a day off work if we need to.
Stepping In. Now in many cases, you will find that it’s better for your child to allow him or her to manage the situation as best as he or she can. However, these are children and they do still need our love, guidance, support, and advice. Sometimes it’s a benefit to the situation and to the child for you to serve as a sounding board for the child, and sometimes you can offer strategies for the child to put to use. Other times, however, you do indeed need to step in for the safety of your child. These would be times like if a child is being bullied at school, if a friend of your child is using drugs, or if you become aware of some other risky behavior.
As you can see, allowing your child to experience some stress and learn from it is not the same as a laissez-faire attitude. Instead, supervision and guidance are key, while allowing your child to be in the driver’s seat as much as possible.
Here are a few other articles written by this author:
Are competitive sports right for your kids?
Is your toddler afraid of the water? Swimming tips that work
The argument for kids playing multiple sports: Considerations beyond your schedule