If your child is showing the signs of stress, it's time to take action. Begin by helping your tween learn to cope with stress, and find ways to reduce or eliminate it from everyday life. Below are a few stress busting suggestions
- Listen to your child's concerns and allow her to communicate her feelings to you. Take her feelings seriously, and try not to be judgmental or angry when she attempts to talk with you about her problems.
- Make sure your tween is getting enough sleep. Most tweens need between nine and ten hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation can add to your child's stress.
- Encourage your tween to write about her troubles in a journal.
- Remove an activity or two from her schedule to give her more down time at home.
- Encourage her to talk about what's bothering her with a friend, or another relative.
- Allow her time to listen to her favorite music, or take time to play a favorite video game.
- Make time for activities your tween enjoys such as drawing, gardening, or reading for pleasure. If possible, spend time with your tween doing the things she enjoys the most.
- If your tween doesn't have a favorite activity, help her find a calming hobby such as art, chess, crossword puzzles, cooking, or baking.
- Allow your child time outdoors to play. Research shows that children who play outdoors regularly reduce their stress and anxiety levels.
- Walk or bike around the neighborhood together.
- Help your tween transition out of unhealthy eating habits and into healthy ones. Replace the sodas with bottled water, and encourage her to reach for fruit, nuts, yogurt and other healthy snacks in place of chips and cookies.
- Teach your child deep breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation techniques to help her deal with her stress.
