Stress can be positive or
negative, and children experience both kinds.
Positive stress can motivate
children and cause them to explore new things—like the excitement of trying out
for a sports team or going on a trip.
Negative stress may make
children feel overwhelmed. It may 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 might 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happy child becomes sullen or withdrawn.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.
