Is your child having panic attacks, anxiety, fear, worry, school anxiety, OCD stress? Why?
- Rebecca Crapo OTR/L, FMT
- Dec 31, 2021
- 9 min read
Welcome I am Rebecca an author and Occupational Therapist with a focus in mental health for over 10 years working with all ages. Currently I provide consultation to parents and aging adults, everything OT. Occupational therapist are trained in the neurological and muscular level of the body, we help educate families and create ways to adapt, strengthen or adjust daily tasks for short-term and long term disabilities. Mind, body, function.
This article talk about our children and stress. Big topic. I will provide signs and symptoms
Not all stress is a bad. Small amounts of pressure from a teacher or a coach, can motivate a child to keep grades up in school or to participate more fully in extracurricular activities. Successfully managing stressful situations or events enhances a child's ability to cope in the future.
Children do have to learn how to deal with stress through daily experiences, they develop resilience and learn how to deal with life's stressors. However, when the stress is continuous or particularly intense, it can take a toll on both the psyche and the body.
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
It's not easy to recognize when kids are stressed out.
What are short-term behavioral changes
Mood swings
Acting out
Changes in sleep patterns
Bedwetting
Stomach Aches
Headaches
Trouble concentrating
Completing schoolwork.
Still others become withdrawn or spend a lot of time alone.
Younger children may pick up new habits
Thumb sucking
Hair twirling
Nose picking
Older kids may begin to
Lie
Bully other children or animals
Defy authority
Overreact to minor problems
Have nightmares
Become overly clingy
Have changes in academic performance.
What causes stress?
Stress is usually related to feeling overwhelmed. Hearing what is going on in the family, in school, or the world.
In preschoolers, separation from parents can cause anxiety. As kids get older, academic and social pressures (especially from trying to fit in) create stress. Some kids may feel too busy, or feel overscheduled with school work and extracurricular activities.
Kids' stress may be intensified by what is happening in your life. The saying kids hear everything is true.
What is going on in the house?
Watch out how you discuss such issues when their kids are near because children will pick up on their parents' anxieties and start to worry themselves. They may repeat the behavior that is going on in the house.
Do your kids hear you talking about troubles at work?
Is the divorce going on in the family?
Hear you worrying about a relative's illness?
Worrying about financial matters?
Watch out what you are watching on TV.
Again kids see and hear the stress and worry of the world and what adults are saying. Today with the pandemic it is especially scary, people, friend, kids dying, and getting sick.
Kids who see disturbing images on TV people protesting, killing of people by people who are supposed to be trusted, or hear talk of natural disasters, war, and terrorism may worry about their own safety and that of the people they love. Talk to your kids about what they see and hear, and monitor what they watch on TV so that you can help them understand what's going on.
What can we do to help?
Children's temperaments vary, and their ability to cope with stress is different, even between children in the same family. Some are easygoing by nature and adjust easily to events and new situations. Others are thrown off balance by any changes in their lives.
All children improve in their ability to handle stress if they:
have succeeded in managing challenges and feel able to do so before.
have a strong sense of self-esteem.
have emotional support from family and friends,
Proper rest and good nutrition can boost coping skills.
Make time for your kids each day. Whether they need to talk or just be in the same room with you, make yourself available. Don't try to make them talk, even if you know what they're worried about. Sometimes kids just feel better when you spend time with them on fun activities.
Have them color there feelings. Create a seen of stress and what they would do.
For younger kids play with their stuffed animals or dolls. Have them talk out a situation and scenario. They are able to imagine and talk about other peoples feelings, and thoughts not realizing they are talking about themselves.
As kids get older, quality time is important. It's really hard for parents to come home after work, get down on the floor, and play with their kids or just talk to them about their day especially if they've had a stressful day themselves. Having the participate in helping with dinner, or putting away groceries, allowing them to feel like they are helping appreciating them for their help.
Expressing interest shows your kids that they're important to you. Any time you can express apression for the little things they do, teaches them to appreciate others.
Physical exercise is important to get all the wiggles out. Sometime non- structured exercise is a great release of endorphins. jumping around, making a dance routine, getting silly, creating obstacle course in the home. It is a good time for you to step out of adult world and play as well. Completing physical exercises an or yoga with the kids helps you both.
FYI: This article contains affiliate marketing. These are the resources I bring to you. I get a monetary return if you choose to buy the product from my site. This does not add anything extra to your price. It helps me write these article for you. It's a win-win for both of us. The items I speak about I have used or others have used in therapeutic sessions. I don't just throw anything in here. Thank you for supporting me.
Great tools to purchase for reducing stress and anxiety. Click on the picture and it will bring you to the site for more information.
Turnaround is a cognitive behavioral therapy program (CBT) for children. It was created by two psychologists. The benefits of the program is proven world wide, and it's pretty cheap. For age 6-12, with general childhood anxiety, panic attacks, school anxiety, seperation, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder. Alternative to medication.
At-Home Treatment for Children with Anxiety
This is a great at home program that kids can play on their own that helps teach your child what anxiety is, how it works, and how to overcome it.
This program helps parents stay home and children have a fun mental health therapy session.
They have a great anxiety questionnaire!
This is like having your own therapy gym in your house. This can create play, help with balance, mobility, reduce stress. A great product you don't plug in, connect to, or download. Holistic approach to good old fashioned playtime. The extra waterproof liner makes any spills or messes a worry-free adventure.
I have used the sensory sock in my practice before completing sit down activities such as homework, writing. I have also been told by parents using it before night time helps get all the wiggles out, and help with a better sleep. It pushed and uses muscles eventually helping calm the body down. can help with language, social interaction,Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or anxiety, interests and behavior patterns, to develop spatial awareness, but also could encourage creative movement for your children improve balance, gross motor skills, and proper postural control/positioning by allowing organization in the sensory system and provides Deep Pressure input. It is good for him/her.
Calming, Therapeutic Sensory Vest – This compression vest for kids with sensory issues helps relieve stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions caused by ADHD or autism, so your child can feel more focused, calm, and relaxed around others.
Home, Travel, and Classroom Use – Our versatile sensory weighted vest can be worn wherever and whenever your child needs to calm down or feel more in control, including on long car rides, in class with friends or teachers, or out running errands.
Sensory Weighted Stuffed Lap Blanket for Toddlers Kids Adults Great for children ( and I have to say adults) struggling to stay calm in a classroom, at home or when they are traveling? Help your child feel safe and focused with this adorable football shaped lap pad, our supersoft snuggly football lap pad. 5 lbs of weight are separated into 12 sections allowing for even distribution.
I love these compression sheets. Many parents tell me how there kid sleeps all night and are less cranky in the morning. Some kids don't like them because it is too tight. Weighted blankets may help them.
CALMING SENSORY INPUT FOR KIDS: A weighted blanket alternative, the snuggle sheet is comforting through deep touch pressure which regulates your child's nervous system (just like a hug!). Harkla's compression blankets for kids offers great sensory input helping your child feel safe and relaxed.
KIDS COMFORTING COMPRESSION SHEET – This stretchy and flexible twin sensory sheet slides over your child’s mattress to create a cool, relaxing hug that cradles them all the way down to their feet with deep touch pressure that helps them stay calm.
Weighted blankets are finally getting recognized for their benefits for both children and adults. The important thing is to make sure you have the right weight depending on you child size. Customized for Children Aged from 4 to 15 - In order to enjoy all the benefits of the heavy blanket, it should perfectly fit the kid’s body and weigh about 7-12% of the child’s weight. Our weighted blankets for kids measure 48” Length, 36” Width, weigh 5Lbs and are the ideal weighted blankets for children aged 4 to 15 years, weighing up to 70 lbs and best for twin bed and full bed. Our weighted blanket comes with different sizes for use of kids at different ages.
Various Cartoon Patterns - Every child has a cartoon dream. We design cute cartoon patterns to attract children's fantasy, satisfy children's curiosity about the world to make children fall in love with this kids weighted blanket. Not only provides a quality sleep, also brings children to have fun.
Star Projector & Galaxy Projector: Newest projector night light is combined with star projector night light & LED nebula projector night light & moon cloud star light, there are 6 display modes and 6 color: Stars-clouds-moon, stars-clouds, clouds-moon, stars-moon, moon, stars. The sky light with star and nebula could moon will offer you an amazing bling room. You can light them together or separately.
This one a parent told me about. She used it in for education and in her house when the kids were not using.
Star Projector,Galaxy Aurora Planets Projector Night Light with Remote Touch Control,Sky Projector Nebula Color Changing Lamp Built-in Bluetooth Speaker
The night light projector has a built-in speaker for playing music as your little one enjoys his/her much-needed rest.You can play your favorite music via Bluetooth or TF card, the lights will spark with beats of your music, perfect for activating the party ambiance or parent-children interaction.
Train Your Dragon To Overcome Anxiety. A Cute Children Story To Teach Kids How To Deal With Anxiety, Worry And Fear.
Helping children read or reading to them is a great way to increase reading and learning skills. Allowing them to listen to words and imagine what is going on in the book. This provides you with on-on-one time with your child, while teaching them about stress and anxiety. Allowing them to know you understand as well.
With anxiety at epidemic levels among our children, Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents offers a contrarian yet effective approach to help children and teens push through their fears, worries, and phobias to ultimately become more resilient, independent, and happy.
How do you manage a child who gets stomachaches every school morning, who refuses after-school activities, or who is trapped in the bathroom with compulsive washing? Children like these put a palpable strain on frustrated, helpless parents and teachers. And there is no escaping the problem: One in every five kids suffers from a diagnosable anxiety disorder.
One of my mothers told me about this one. It helped her children learn empathy, and care for other people. Alltruists creates kid-friendly monthly volunteer and giving projects - that you can do in your living room! We provide subscription boxes where kids will LEARN, CONNECT, ACT and GIVE (and some fun extra surprises!) Each box is centered around learning a single theme. Our first box (launched June 2021) is called We ALL Need Shelter and is designed to help kids better understand the issue of homelessness from a developmentally appropriate perspective, while also providing them an at-home volunteer and giving activity.
If your skipping the park and kids need a place to play, and you have some room in the backyard. This is a easy to assemble play set for swinging, climbing, and fun.
An outdoor playhouse is every kid’s dream. Therefore, we not only take your children into account with safe and lots of playful activities. But, we also think of you as a parent!. Likewise, to have a beautiful and nicely designed modular playset to style your backyard. Which on top of that is hustle-free and simple to assemble.
Nutrition and learning about food at an early age is essential to good health children, and helping in the kitchen brings kids and parents together.
Whether you want to share a love of cooking with your kids, or build confidence in the kitchen together, our kits have what you’re looking for.
I hope this information helps if you want to check out my website and sign up to get more information.
My Books
I have created this therapy-based activity book to get your children ages 3+ on the path to success with a fun interactive activity book that helps you apply tips and techniques for your little ones to master early learning skills and progressively build their writing skills.
For The UNICORNE Lover. This starts with Alphabet, letters, distinguish between tall, shot, and tail letters. The rest is blank center dashed lined practice writing paper with three line widths and a colored guide below the dotted line for the first thickness allowing for developing letter size and formation. Begins with a wide line thickness, 1 1/2 inches, reduced to 1 1/4 inch, and progresses smaller to a standard kindergarten size of 1 inch. This allows for a gradual decrease in letter size and letter formation.
For the non-unicorn lover. This book easily demonstrates the difference between tall, short, and tail letters. The rest of the book is blank center dashed lined practice writing paper with three line widths and a colored guide below the dotted line for the first thickness allowing for developing letter size and formation. Begins with a wide line thickness, 1 1/2 inches, reduced to 1 1/4 inch, and progresses smaller to a standard kindergarten size of 1 inch. This allows for a gradual decrease in letter size and letter formation.
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