I'm happy to share a sponsored guest post with you today from Sam Jones on symptoms of childhood stress. For those of you with children exhibiting these signs, this informative article will help you understand and alleviate some of those symptoms.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR KIDS ARE STRESSED OUT
Many of us are used to that feeling of being stressed out. Let’s face it, being a Mom isn’t easy. Whether it’s cleaning up after your tear-away toddler for the fourth time in an hour, or trying to balance work with play dates and outings, sometimes we can really feel pushed to our limits.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR KIDS ARE STRESSED OUT
Many of us are used to that feeling of being stressed out. Let’s face it, being a Mom isn’t easy. Whether it’s cleaning up after your tear-away toddler for the fourth time in an hour, or trying to balance work with play dates and outings, sometimes we can really feel pushed to our limits.
So go ahead and have that glass of wine in the evening, go to your yoga class, or read up on your meditation exercises; whatever it takes for you to feel calmer. And once you’re nice and relaxed, let me ask this question (just to stress you out again) - did it ever cross your mind that your kids could be feeling the tension as well?
Causes of Stress
While their problems might seem small to you, for your child---who might be the victim of name calling at school, or fighting with a sibling, dealing with family problems at home, or something like not being picked for the football team---these things may cause significant physical and mental stress on them.
Family Education talks about the numerous causes of stress in toddlers and in children that may lead to them acting out unexpectedly, such as throwing tantrums in public places. Other stress factors, such as starting a new school, moving to a new area, or dealing with parental problems can all weigh heavily on children’s shoulders at any age.
Signs of Stress
Other ways in which stress can manifest physically include disturbed sleeping habits, a change in bowel movements, ear aches and teeth grinding. For older kids, you might notice that they seem more withdrawn, or more aggressive and irritable than usual (although that can be pretty hard to tell with teenagers).
But if they seem overly anxious about a certain situation, invent reasons not to go to school, or if you hear them calling out in their sleep or clenching their jaw, you should keep an eye out on their behavior.
What You Can Do
If any of these symptoms carry on for more than a couple of weeks, you should consider visiting your caregiver or consulting with a Dental Lab to see if a dental night guard might be an effective way of protecting your child’s teeth (as well as counseling sessions, which may be useful).
Teeth grinding (also called bruxism) is pretty common in children but can go unnoticed, as it is often transitory. However, bruxism is a classic sign of stress, and can be harmful to your child physically as well as mentally, affecting their hearing, jaw muscles, neck and, of course, teeth, if left untreated. In some cases, your dentist might suggest corrective treatment, but often a custom night guard will be recommended to prevent lasting damage in tooth enamel. You can find out more Here.
Before YOU get too stressed about the idea of your kids being stressed, know that many of these symptoms are simply characteristic of a growth spurt, lack of sleep, or maybe even just having a bad day. Keep in mind that stress isn’t only reserved for the adults, but you can probably help to stop the symptoms of your child’s stress before it becomes a habit.
BIO:
Sam Jones is a digital marketing expert, social media and branding consultant and guest blogger for various publications, including Business2Community, Inbound.org and TestPrepPlace.com. In her free time, Sam is an avid traveler, foodie and lover of all things technology. She's also a fitness fanatic (in the making).
