Children and Stress: Are You Pushing Your Child Too Hard?

2008 January 28 by: Scott

As childhood stress, anxiety and depression appears to be on the rise in the U.S., parents are beginning to search for answers for to reduce stress. Author, Mary Longo provides parents with some real answers for the signs and symptoms for childhood stress. She also asks parents this question:

Are You Pushing Your Child Too Hard?

Often a child appears to be very grown up and able to handle responsibility–he or she may even seem like a “miniature adult.” However, parents may inadvertently treat their children as adults too early and hurry them along in the process of growing up. Parents need to watch for the possibility that their child has been given too much responsibility and is being pushed too hard.

Pressures on children most often occurs during the middle childhood years as children feel pressures from a number of sources. They may feel pressure from within themselves, from parents, from teachers and peers, and from society. Children must respond to and adapt to these pressures.

Children typically welcome some events, while others are more difficult for them to take on. As children continue to grow, they may be more able to express opinions and concerns about their activities. Early in the middle childhood years, however, a child’s commitment and stress level often are controlled by a parent or adult.

Young school-age children will sometimes express their feelings directly. Some children, however, may internalize stress and show it through sadness, depression, or withdrawal. Other children may express feelings of stress outwardly and begin to misbehave.

Signs of Over commitment:

Stress is a part of life and growing up, but adults need to keep a watchful eye on children and intervene when they sense something is undermining a child’s physical or psychological well-being.

Here are some signs that stress may be having a negative impact on a child:

The child develops physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomach pains.

The child seems restless, tired, and agitated.

The child appears depressed and will not communicate how he or she feels.

The child seems less interested in an activity that was once very important to him or her, such as baseball or dance class.

The child’s grades begin to fall, and he or she has less interest than usual in attending classes and doing homework.

The child exhibits antisocial behavior, such as lying and stealing, forgets or refuses to do chores, and seems more dependent on the parent than in the past.