Helping Kids Deal With Stress
Submitted by Lookit I Spy Blog
I am always open and honest with my kids. And it’s a good thing too because my kids hear everything my husband and I say, even if we don’t think they are listening. So being open and honest about the current economic situation is important to. Here are some tips from Lynne Kulakowski, a Social Worker in New York:
For Children ages 4-8: Provide simple responses such as, “Daddy seems a little extra tired lately because he has a lot to do at work but you can help by going to school every morning & learning something fun to tellme at the end of the day at our dinnertime together.” Address the issue lightly but also re-assure them that their role is to continue on with their daily schedule. Encourage them to maintain their daily routine; structure & consistent daily schedules are very important for young children during times of stress in their home.Involve your partner/spouse/significant other with this process-if your child views you as a united front it will increase their feeling of safety & security.
For Children ages 9-13: Ditto above information PLUS try to make them part of the problem-solving process. “I’m sure you’ve seen the recent news about a lot of people losing their jobs, well…Mommy is working extra hard to make sure that our family gets thru this and you could bea big help to me by clipping out coupons for grocery shopping, or you could help wash the car.” Encourage children at this age to be creative in what they want to do for entertainment and it will distract them from feeling helpless and/or worried about the stress within the home. If they feel a part of the solution it will strengthen family bonds & increase their overall self-esteem.
For Children ages 14-17: This age group is probably more aware of the world crisis & especially more aware of what is going on within their own homes; given that fact & their individual need to gain independence from the family; speak openly & honestly about what they can expect from you as their parent. By NOT having the T.V. on everynight, it reduces the exposure that children & parents have to themedia & the feelings of despair that often accompany many people from watching something they have no control over. Children may not be able to feed starving children in a third world country but they can definitely spend time with their parent outside of the home at their local library, park or community center. Thus it is a win-win for everyone involved as it promotes spending quality time together &reduces the stress of everyone involved.
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