Contributed by: Sondra Leiggi Brandon, Cohort VII

Signs of Stress in Children:

• Crankiness or anger
• Continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness
• Social withdrawal
• Being more sensitive to rejection
• Increase or decrease in appetite
• Changes in sleep
• Vocal outbursts or crying
• Trouble concentrating
• Fatigue or low energy
• Physical complaints (such as stomach aches and headaches) that don't respond to treatment
• Trouble during events and activities at home or with friends, in school, during extracurricular activities, and with other hobbies or interests
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Increased acting-out of undesirable behaviors (sexual or behavioral)
• Increased risk-taking behaviors
• Poor grades

Ways to Help Children Through Stressful Times:

• Three good things: at dinnertime, everyone in the family identifies three good things that have happened to them in the day
• Make talking about emotions a practice
• Listen: really listen to them – put down your phone and turn off the TV
• Outdoor play: sports, playgrounds, fly a kite
• Connect with nature: hiking trails, beach activities
• Focus on the good: acts of warmth, kindness, and caring
• Practice good sleep hygiene: routines for sleep, no TV or social media, bedtime stories, early bedtimes
• Develop other routines to help limit feelings of being “out of control”
• Deep breathing
• Play dates
• Taking breaks if they feel overwhelmed with schoolwork or siblings
• Give them some control: let them choose things like their clothes, a restaurant, food 
• Practice distractions: art, music, writing, reading