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According to the APA's "
Stress in America" study, nearly
70%
of Americans experience physical and mental symptoms of stress, and only
37%
think they are doing very well at managing stress.
69%
of parents say their stress doesn't affect their kids.
90%
of kids say otherwise!
The younger the child, the more likely they are to pick up on the stress of the parent
If your kids are showing signs of stress (e.g. irritability, moodiness, complaining, crying, withdrawal from activities, and changes in sleeping or eating patterns), try these techniques to calm them down:
Take deep breaths--When your child shows signs of stress, first have him or her take a moment of pause to calm down. Try
this
simple, kid-friendly breathing and mindfulness exercise!
Get out of the house--Do anything movement-oriented outside, like basketball, gardening, or biking.
April 22nd is Earth Day: plant a tree!April 29th is Arbor Day: plant another tree!
Start an art project--Help kids get out of the ruminating cycle and get into a more open, creative space with magazines, stickers, marker, and glitter!
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April Kid of the Month: Jennifer Hauser
Jennifer is ten years old and is the only child in her family. Since both her parents work, she is often responsible for herself after school. She is learning to start dinner and do household chores to help out. Jennifer has many friends and an active social life. Jennifer's favorite subjects in school are science and math. She likes sports (especially soccer), listening to
music, and writing to her pen pal, Jerome.
Jennifer's first grade teacher noticed that Jennifer was having problems learning, but knew that her difficulties were not due to laziness or lack of effort. "I was always trying as hard as I could," says Jennifer. "It's just that what I thought was right usually came out wrong!" Her teacher suggested to Jennifer's parents that she be tested for a possible learning disability.
Jennifer was tested and diagnosed as having a visual perception problem (VPP). For Jennifer, VPP means that sometimes she has trouble reading and writing letters in the correct order within words. She also has a directional problem. This means she has trouble automatically distinguishing left from right. That's why she wears a ring on her right hand-it helps her to differentiate her left from her right.
This year, Jennifer spends an hour each day in the resource room. Her resource teacher, Ms. Ricci, and classroom teacher work together to implement learning strategies and to develop any needed modifications. Jennifer is permitted to invite friends to the resource room where she involves them in learning activities and thus dispels the myth that what happens in the resource room is "baby work." Jennifer is fortunate that her learning disability has been identified and she is receiving the help she needs.
Jennifer is discovering that having a learning disability is nothing to be embarrassed about. Instead, Jennifer talks openly about it, allowing children to see that having a learning disability is no big deal. She says, "Some things I learn slowly and some things I learn quickly, but I am able to learn just about anything. I just learn in a different way. Ms. Ricci teaches me the way I learn best."
Jennifer is the featured character in The Kids on the Block program on Learning Disabilities.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Recent research points toward the growing recognition of the importance of context (home and center-based childcare) on physiology and emotional and behavioral regulation early in human development. Animal studies have shown that early experiences have the potential to exert long-term effects on stress responsivity. In these animal studies, environmental factors have been shown to shape regulation of the part of the endocrine system (the HPA axis) that reacts to stress. This new research contends that environmental factors operating at key points in development may shape HPA axis regulation as much they do in children.
Recent advancements in basic neuroscience research have generated excitement in clinical researchers for extending understanding of pathophysiology. The next steps are to expand the knowledge base on relations among brain function, cognition, and behavior and identify key processes that can be targeted in preventive interventions to alter the developmental course and reduce the risk for negative outcomes.
Read the full abstract
HERE!
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What is stress?
Kids' responses:
"Stress is when you worry too much."
"Stress is when life catches up to you and you feel stressful."
"It's when your body gets scrunched up and you don't know what to do."
I was talking to a teacher recently, and did you know that preschool kids don't even get recess in elementary school? More and more children have to cope with more stressors. Various stressors include test taking, strictly structured school days, and less physical activity. At every puppet show, no matter what the topic, we talk about what to do if you are feeling stressed or worried. Coping skills include taking deep breaths, counting to 10, and seeking help from an adult. However, we are starting to expand our ideas of coping skills. For instance, if a child feels angry or stressed, they could write about it on a sheet of paper or perhaps draw a picture of the stressful situation and then tear up the sheet of paper or throw it away. This is a physical way of externalizing the stressor, expressing it on the child's terms, and having the child dispose of the stressor. With older kids, we talk about writing in a journal, playing music, or even engaging in sports. More and more preteens and teenagers express that they enjoy writing poetry or short stories. Using this creativity can be empowering and can alleviate stress. As for younger kids who may not have as much time on the playground, having them stand up during circle time, jump around to music, and then commence with structured activities can offer kids a chance to channel that extra energy.
What people are saying about Kids on the Block:
"The puppet show helped the kids talk about their feelings. I hope the kids will learn how to express themselves in a healthier way" -Parent from Columbus, GA
"I learned a lot from the show about disabilities. I didn't realize that people who have physical disabilities can swim and play on the playground" --4
th grader from Cherokee County, GA
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To schedule a Kids on the Block performance, please contact Lorie at [email protected]
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| WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! Kids on the Block is only one of many programs offered by MHA of Georgia to further our mission of enhancing the mental health of Georgians through education, outreach and advocacy. Click here to learn more about our programs. Your support will help us continue our work educating Georgians about mental illness, working to eliminate stigma and advocating on behalf of people with mental illness in our state. Click here to support MHA of Georgia. |
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24/7
Georgia Crisis and Access Line
If you or someone you know are in need of immediate assistance please contact the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at:
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