Radio Commentary
Stress
can be positive or negative, and children experience both kinds.
Positive
stress motivates children and causes them to explore new things—like the
excitement of trying out for a sports team or going on a trip.
Negative
stress makes children feel overwhelmed. It can cause problems unless children
learn ways to cope with it.
Causes
of negative stress in children can include difficult events, such as death or
divorce. But even positive events, such
as a new sibling or new home, can cause children to feel overwhelmed.
Stress can also be caused
by children’s everyday, ordinary activities.
These could include
interacting with peers, taking tests, or going through physical and emotional
changes.
Parents
should watch children for signs of stress. These may include:
• Not getting along well with other people, especially in the
child’s age group.
• A drastic drop in grades.
• A serious change in behavior—if
a cheerful, happy child becomes sullen or withdrawn.
• Physical symptoms—such as chronic headaches or stomachaches, a
racing heartbeat, nightmares, bedwetting, nail-biting, or poor eating.
A
child who shows more than one of these signs may need help. Recognizing stress
in children is an important first step in reducing its impact.
