Sunday, December 9, 2001		Stressbusters

ONE of the many challenging things about working with children is that they often do not exhibit stress in the same way that adults do.

• The younger the child is, the less likely he or she is to be able to communicate his/her troubles in words.

• They, therefore, are more likely to communicate stress through their actions.

• Examples of such behaviour can range from becoming mildly forgetful to fighting with peers and/or adults, abusing, or trying to kill himself or herself.

• Parents can ease the stress that children feel and teach them to cope with stressful situations.

• It is important to remember that stress is a natural part of your child’s growth.

• It only becomes harmful when the problems and hassles of daily life overwhelm your child.

• A pre-schooler is stressed when day-care arrangements are changed.

• Pre-schoolers need loving reassurance and support.

• A school-going child is upset when he does not do well in an arithmetic test.

• A teenager feels stress as she tries to figure out what she is going to do with her life.

• They have little control over their lives and are too young to use problem-solving skills to work through situations.

• Starting or changing day-care,

• Starting pre-school,

• The arrival of a new baby or family member,

• Being separated from a parent, being disciplined,

• Toilet training.

• Pre-schoolers also worry that they will be deserted or starve, and they may become fearful of strangers.

• Remember that your child is learning from you.

• Parents who are high-strung, perfectionists, or poor problem-solvers are apt to pass these traits on to their children because kids copy their parents.

• You need to recognise the signs of excessive stress so that you can seek help for your child.

• Seeking help may be as simple as talking the situation over with a friend, family member, or a professional counsellor.

The writer is a senior Haryana Cadre IPS Officer