Last week Dr. Michele Borba talked about a new study that found teens and college kids are hyper-stressed and are not handling it well. Read it at: http://twitter.com/#!/micheleborba. Her excellent review discussed ways to help stressed kids de-stress. But, I’m concerned about what makes kids stressed and what we can do about it. Kids today have more affluence than ever before; by 7th grade most of them have cell phones, I-pods, computers and a TV in their bedroom, play several sports, one or more musical instruments, and … oh, maybe that’s part of the problem!
Kids need time to just be kids; a time each day with no schedule, and no responsibility, a time each day just to watch the grass grow, smell the roses, listen to the sounds of nature, think and plan. Sure, there are many kids who do not have access to a park, hiking trail, or other outdoor spot. But almost all kids can find the outdoors on their own window sill. Even a small window box will provide a place to view a growing flower, a butterfly or humming bird. Give it a try and see how relaxing it can be. How many of us have ever spent time watching the guppies in a small aquarium? Relaxing too, isn’t it!
Try lying on your back and watching the clouds make formations in the sky. It’s easy to spot clouds that look like bunnies, Santa Clause, or angels. And this time alone with your imagination is important for adults, but essential for kids, especially teens. Allow your kids this freedom every day! You won’t need to schedule it, just let it happen.
Try to spend some time with your family and friends hiking or biking out of door at least on the weekends during the school year and as ofter as possible on summer evenings.
And by all means, limit use of electronic gadgets! Especially TV,and computers; and like Borba said: no screen time for at least half an hour before bedtime.
Try these simple fun things for a month and I guarantee you will find your kids and yourself much less stressed. Finally, remember that stress is contagious, kids catch much of it from stressed parents and the other way around.
So, the question becomes are we parents part of the problem, or part of the solution? You’ll have to evaluate your own family; only you can answer that question.