How to help kids manage stress

Kids though are very vulnerable to stress, they can easily be taught to manage stress which will help them in a long run. Stress and continuous stress in the kids leads to alteration in harmones and lead them to be a depressed person when they grow up. Parents have to take steps and help kids to come out of the stress.

Eating healthy foods
Kids need to be given healthy foods and they have to be taught not to skip breakfast. Meals and snack time have to be scheduled and they have to be taught to take all types of food including greens which are rich in fibre. Kids have to be taught to take a balanced meal right from the young age.

Work out is more important
All work and no play makes any one dull and idle. Today's kids enjoy to be at home with their PSPs or X-Box or with their DSI's if not atleast keep watching television. Most of the games that kids played even a decade ago are not played by today's kids. Imparting outdoor activities in today's kids is much much more important and necessary. Kids when start playing with other kids also learn to be more communicative and more open to different situations.

Clearly defined rules and regulations are necessary
While setting up the rules and regulations for kids they have to be set out clearly and it have to be followed by one and all. When some rules are not followed by elders but the kids are insisted to be followed, they get confused and this leads to non-cooperation. So parents have to be clear in their rules and better not to make rules but just guide them.

Hug your kids many times
Physical touch solves many of the emotional problems, it is a great healer. But a hug is more effective than a lot of words. As a parent, when you feel that your kid is stressed up talk with him/her in a gentle touch keep close to you, hug your child and assure them that you are there for them ever.

A gentle massage helps a lot
Just like the touch and hug a gentle massage given by the parents in the neck and shoulder acts as a great stress reliever which helps the kids to open up more. (Kids can also be taught to ask for a hug or a gentle massage from the parents).

Kids need a good listening ear
It have to be the parents and parents alone to be a good listener for their kids. Parents, when listen without interruption or without giving much advice will become a good friend of the kid. Instead of advising, the parents can encourage the kids to talk more. Allot time to listen to the kids but never make a regular time table. Instead, dinner time or evening walk time can be made as a listening time.

Allow the kids to show feelings
Kids should be taught to show their sadness and happiness equally. They should also be taught to vent out their anger. Kids have to be taught to be open to parents or siblings which will destress them.

Make the kids understand that every one makes mistake
Kids should be taught that every one not just kids but even adults including their parents makes mistakes and when you make a mistake. When you make a mistake, apologize and there should not be any hiding or any goofing up. Kids should be taught to own up their mistakes which will help them in avoiding stress.

Teach to learn from own mistakes
Kids need to be given personal examples and how they came out of those stressful situations. This will help the kids understand that every one gets stressed in their life. They have to understand that mistakes are only to learn and not to keep fretting about it.