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Stressing Out at School
(HealthScoutNews)
-- If your child is still anxious or stressed about settling into
a new school year, there are ways you can help them cope.
That's the reassuring opinion of Lisa Boyum, a pediatric and adolescent
psychologist at National Jewish Medical and Research Center.
"The first and most
important step is listening to your child. It underlies everything
else. Sometimes listening is enough to initiate the changes you
want," Boyum says.
Here's some more advice
for parents:
- Eat with your children.
Sharing meals is important and helpful in many ways, Boyum says.
It gives parents and children the chance to talk about the day
and any issues that came up. Talking about a particular concern
can help children find answers to their problems and worries.
These dinner conversations let parents monitor what their children
are doing and what issues they're facing. Also, research shows
that children who eat regular meals with their parents do better
in school and have better social skills.
- Make other opportunities
to listen to your children. Regular, predictable activities
such as driving to school, walking the dog or doing the dishes
give children with the chance to talk with their parents and
share what's on their minds, Boyum says. Children are often
more comfortable broaching difficult subjects during an activity
that has a finite length because it means there's a time limit
on potentially unpleasant conversations, Boyum says.
- Don't rush your answers
to a child's questions and concerns. Hear them through. If you
interrupt a child to offer your analysis or advice, the child
may feel you're lecturing, not listening. If you don't have
an answer to offer at that moment, explain it to your child
and tell the child you want to think about what she said before
you come to a conclusion.
- Reassure your child
that other students are struggling with many of the same issues
and concerns. You might even share a story about your own fears
and mistakes when you were a child. Point out that you survived
them and so will your child, Boyum says.
More information
There's more about children's
mental health at the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Reference
Source 101
For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use
PreventDisease.com's "Quick
Prevention Resources".
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