5 real life coping strategies for stressed kids

All parents hope that kids will come to talk to us if they feel stressed. In reality, kids turn to things that make them feel better quickly. Equipping kids with healthy coping skills reduces this need for negative coping behaviours. We will talk today about some practical coping methods for stressed kids.  

Ask them to plan ahead  
We can’t always predict challenges. But we can have a work plan in place to make space for sudden hurdles. Ask your kid to plan studies for a week. That will leave him or her with enough room to manage a surprise test. Discourage last minute project plans. Make a week plan for your work and share it with them as example.   

Get kids to analyse and break the problem down 
Think clearly is tough when stressed, because hormones and emotions are running at full throttle. The brain has a certain capacity to process information and take decisions. Get your kid to explain the problem to you. That will give them a perspective. Then ask them to pick out the difficulties, and suggest how they can solve these one by one. It’s like getting ready for school. There will be a rush, but starting with brushing teeth and ending with catching the bus will get them through. 

Help them let go of emotions 
Crying, throwing tantrums or becoming morose won’t solve a problem. Teach your kids to unburden emotions through breathing exercises that calm them down immediately, taking a walk to think about it, and of course, to discuss their stressors with you.  

Introduce physical activities  
Exercise is one of the best stress-busters. Sports, dancing, yoga, skating, or simply running around the compound – all of these might work well to blow off the steam. Once they come back quieter, talk and find out how you can help.  

Creativity can reduce stress  
Doodling, drawing, listening to music or reading a story gives the brain time to calm down while doing something else. Let your kid choose a favourite creative activity and engage in it when stressed. It will help them move towards a plan with a calmer mind.