By Director of Curriculum & Instruction James Hooper
It’s no secret that stress is a part of every student’s life today. From high school to kindergarten, students are describing themselves as “often or always feeling stressed” by schoolwork. Surveys show that 70% of teens say anxiety and depression are a major problem among their peers. There is less research regarding stress with elementary school students, but it’s definitely present. Watch the concern in their eyes, notice the increased behaviors of clinginess, unable to sit still, or even extremely quiet and a bit reclusive. Add in the stress of the pandemic, and everyone is feeling it; no one is immune. Now come the holidays, which will only add to that stress. So how can parents support their children when they’re feeling overwhelmed? Here are 9 ways that a parent can support their kids during stressful times:
1. Act as a cheerleader and supporter for your teen – provide the necessary supplies and show an active interest in the content your child is learning.
2. Recognize that children learn in different ways and have different work styles – some do homework all at once, while others need to take frequent breaks. Discuss with your child the working conditions that will lead to the best homework outcomes.
3. Work WITH your child to develop a schedule that will allow time to complete homework, work on projects and study for tests – while still attending activities, getting adequate sleep and having time for play.
4. Don’t underestimate the importance of non-academic achievements. Kids – regardless of age — need playtime, downtime and family time each day. Research shows this acts as a protective factor for long-term academic engagement and overall well-being.
5. Allow time, space and rejuvenation between activities. Encourage teens to unwind by listening to music, reading for pleasure and spending time with friends. Kids need time to reflect and dream, explore the world, develop interests, make friends and craft an identity.
6. Schedule high-quality family time multiple times a week to give kids the experience of unconditional love, acceptance and support. Eat meals together, take walks, swap stories and practice family traditions.
7. As a family, discuss the characteristics of success that you value most (e.g., compassion, integ-rity, health). Remind your kids that success is measured over the course of a lifetime, not at the end of a semester.
8. Explain that there are many different paths to success. Talk about your own path, including your struggles and failures.
9. Examine the subtle messages you send your kids. If your first question after school is, “How’d you do on the test?” you may be implying that grades matter more than anything else. Instead, ask, “How was your day? Learn anything interesting? Did you get to spend time with friends?”
While some stress can help motivate students to get work done, too much stress can be over-whelming and can cause problems with health, sleep and brain function. So, spend some “down-time” with your students this holiday season and hopefully they’ll come back to school with less stress and ready to tackle the rest of the school year.