Young Children and Stress: How Can We Help? While some stress in life is normal and may even be useful, too much stress can cause a number of difficulties. This guide is designed to assist early childhood teachers in understanding the role of stress in the lives of young children and in helping children cope with that stress. The guide discusses the definition of stress and the causes of stress in young children, such as the loss of a loved one, family violence, and excessive family expectations. The guide explains how young children show stress--through aggression, phobias, health difficulties, and sadness. It then outlines stress management techniques, including the role of diet and exercise in reducing stress, relaxation techniques, creative visualization, and the cognitive management of stress. The guide then discusses situations in which a stressed child may need more help than the teacher can give and provides tips on stress management for parents and caregivers. Two creative visualization/imagery exercises are included, along with suggestions for further reading. (MDM). |
