Peer pressure can be very tough for school children, especially teenagers. Children are very sensitive about what their friends think of them. So, they constantly try to win the approval of their friends. Abuse, humiliation, mockery by peers can gravely affect a child. Peer pressure can destroy a child\u2019s mental health and may even drive them to self-harm and suicide.<\/p>\n

How to know if your child is stressed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Children of different age groups can respond to stress differently and show different symptoms. You need to watch out for behavioral changes and an increase in emotional outbursts and mood swings. Here are some symptoms that can indicate stress in children<\/p>\n

\n
• Aggression:<\/strong> The aggressive response to mild problems, such as hitting and biting.<\/li>\n
• Increased tantrums:<\/strong>\u00a0Crying and screaming at minor irritations. Older kids might appear over-emotional and might show exaggerated responses to minor problems. They might have difficulty in controlling their emotional responses.<\/li>\n
• Sleep problems:<\/strong>\u00a0Sleep troubles like insomnia, bedwetting, and nightmares.<\/li>\n
• Decreased appetite:\u00a0<\/strong>Lack of appetite and disinterest in even favorite food items.<\/li>\n
• Physical complaints:\u00a0<\/strong>Frequent complaints of headaches or stomach aches.<\/li>\n
• Tension:\u00a0<\/strong>Finding it difficult to relax and always feeling jittery and on edge.<\/li>\n
• Phobias:\u00a0<\/strong>Children may develop new fears or start experiencing fears they had experienced earlier.<\/li>\n
• Avoidance:\u00a0<\/strong>Children might refuse to visit places where their stressor is located. These might include school, playgrounds, parks, even a friend\u2019s house.<\/li>\n
• Withdrawal:\u00a0<\/strong>Children might start withdrawing from play activities and social interactions..<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  What to do if your child is stressed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

  Whether at home or school, your child needs to feel protected and appreciated. You need to ensure that your child is growing in an environment that nurtures their self-worth and protects their wellbeing.<\/p>\n

  Understand:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  Children cannot express their feelings. You need to pay attention to their behavior to judge if they are feeling disturbed. Help your children identify what\u2019s disturbing them, then teach them ways to cope with these stressors. Listen to their problems, understand their struggles, and help instead of punishing. Of course, you need to teach and discipline them for their own good. But do it gently, with understanding and positive reinforcements.<\/p>\n

  Ensure a healthy home environment:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  Your home environment should make your kids feel protected and cared for. A house ringing with fights, anger, and abuses cannot feel safe to a child.<\/p>\n

  Don\u2019t neglect:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  No matter how busy you are, you need to make time for your children. Even if it is just one hour a day. But keep that one hour regular and assure your children you are there for them, to protect them and take care of their every need.<\/p>\n

  Be careful about the school stressors:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  Schools can be full of stress for children. Your child might get troubled by a bully, or jeered by his or her own friends. A frank conversation between children and parents as well as between parents and teachers can keep school stressors in control. If your child is facing some trouble at school, help your kid to sort it out. Seek their teacher\u2019s help if you need to. Schools too should follow a strict policy against physical or verbal abuse and bullying to make sure their students feel protected in school.<\/p>\n

  Consult a doctor:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

  If your child is showing excessive emotional outbursts, performing poorly in school, withdrawing from social interactions, or showing symptoms of depression, consult your child\u2019s pediatrician.<\/p>\n

  Even a minor event like a fight with a friend can cause stress to your child. If you notice any behavioral changes in your children, don\u2019t ignore it. Try to understand the reason behind these changes. Assure your children, you understand their feelings and are there to help and protect them. Childhood stress can leave long-lasting effects. But a loving and nurturing environment at home and school can ensure your child is happy and healthy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Stress is not a bad word. A moderate amount of stress is good. It helps the body to handle and adapt to difficult situations. However, when this stress becomes excessive, it can affect physical and mental health. While the \u2018good stress\u2019 helps us handle obstacles and perform well, the \u2018bad stress\u2019 can affect our health […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[49,52],"class_list":{"0":"post-620","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthy-kids","8":"tag-kids","9":"tag-kidsstress-stress-kidshealth"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n