Stress is not exclusive to the adult, it also occurs in children. For example, at the school level, overloading children with homework or extracurricular classes are factors that favor increasing stress.
However, in childhood the child also may be affected by other more complex situations the separation of their parents, moving, death of a relative, as well as normal natural changes.
"That the child suffer irritability, excitement, not sleep well, be depressed and apathetic, are the symptoms suffered by those who are more stressed, and the alarm that alerts parents that their children suffer from stress," explains Gustavo Bernaldez Moreno, pediatrician HLA San Carlos.
According to the professional, is so important, "know how to interpret the signals that children give us, and find the source of the problem and the cause that produces this situation as it is, teach them manage stressful situations, remembering that if parents live their daily lives with anxiety, they will convey this feeling to their children. "
"Accompaniment, affection and communication are the three keys", explains Dr. Bernaldez, adding that "it is necessary to make children aware of the moment they live and the anxiety they feel, and with that awareness they gain confidence and Self-control in themselves ".
As for the stress produced at school, the pediatrician adds that “the school environment gives a great opportunity for children to assume obligations that they will be incorporating, without losing that childhood privilege”, and adds that “there is no better tool to achieve it to devote time to talk with them, reinforcing the importance of personal effort and always with much love and patience. ”
The specialist also recommends that with the school activity another opportunity arises to instill ethical and social values, “such as teamwork with future classmates, which teaches a collaborative attitude and not just competitive with the other. In addition, children's first relationships are created at school, and they have to be made to live them in a healthy way, in a self-controlled way and not with the stress generated by having many expectations, which even adults sometimes have " .
"To all this, we must not forget the importance of healthy eating, banishing addictive behaviors that determine both attack and today our children, so they can cope with daily activities. These are habits that must be implemented by parents and educators, "warns the professional.
Games to communicate with children
"The short age of children is not an excuse to limit communication," says the professional, adding that "according to age, there are different strategies to transmit the learning of awareness, self-control and self-confidence" . For example, this is achieved with yoga techniques, meditation for children and stories. In addition, with games for children and dramatizations for older children and adolescents, where they interpret and recreate a role, a greater internalization of the knowledge that they want to transmit is achieved. Thus, little by little, stress will be controlled and anxiety transformed "advises Dr. Gustavo.
Finally, during this process must not give all the answers to the smallest of the house, but that "we must encourage and allow these crazy little ones get on their own some solutions," explains pediatrician, and concludes that "this he is preparing them for a healthier adults. "
