Stress can severely affect the mental health as well as academic life of children. Therefore, it is necessary to keep children away from stress for their well being. Let us take a look at some of the harmful effects of stress on children.In this world where every child is a part of the rat race to be the best so that they can have a bright future, often experience stress as a side effect of participating in this race. While a certain amount of stress is necessary in a child’s life to act as their driving force towards their goals, too much of it is bad.A normal child’s brain produces numerous brain cells that help the child retain and take in more knowledge. But too much stress depleted many of these new cells thereby reducing the amount that a child can take in.Besides lowering a child’s IQ level, here are the other effects of stress. In this articleAnxietyDecreased AppetiteNightmaresStutteringAngerAnxietyOne of the most common and earliest symptoms of stress in a child is anxiety. The stress does not let the child stop worrying. They are always anxious and jumpy and just cannot be content.They always have a sense of fear surrounding them even though they do not know what they are actually frightened of at some points. Anxiety can also lead to reduction of concentration and will power. It is often the most dangerous effect of stress.Decreased AppetiteAfter anxiety, decreasing appetite is the second most harmful effect of stress. As the stress increases, the child slowly starts withdrawing from food and after a point the food intake keeps getting less. If the child normally had two helpings during dinner then the same child under stress will have one helping or sometimes half a helping of food. Often times they just stop eating altogether.NightmaresStress has always been known to be the cause of nightmares and in case of children this is heightened. Too much stress in a child, no matter what the cause is, results in them having nightmares and ends up disturbing their sleeping pattern. As the stress induced nightmares keep them up at night, they feel increasingly tired and irritated during the day, disrupting their work pattern.StutteringStuttering is a side effect that almost every child faces when under stress. This happens because their confidence level drops to a great extent. Stress causes them to believe that they can never be the best at anything they do.Even if they are good at something or are answering a question correctly, they think it is wrong. So they stutter and pause so that they can take the answer back if they see any sign or disapproval. Stuttering also makes them anti-social and children under stress can end up losing friends.AngerStress is always accompanied by anger. A child under stress is bound to get angry easily. Stress causes the child to be frustrated with himself or herself, which results in sudden bouts of raging anger. This anger not only causes the child to be unhappy but also keeps the people around them on their toes. Also, most of the time, this anger leads children to cry. Crying is a way that helps them vent out the stress building in.So as parents you should keep in mind that a child under stress is in a very delicate and vulnerable state. If it is academic stress, help them make time tables to even out what to study when so that they stay relaxed. If the stress is caused due to a fight then try to help them resolve the fight. But if the stress is due to family issues, then it is your responsibility to make the child feel loved, safe and secure, no matter how your own state is. So try to keep your child happy and stress free!What are the negative effects of stress on children? How to help children deal with stress? What are the ways to prevent stress in children? Discuss here.
Stress can severely affect the mental health as well as academic life of children. Therefore, it is necessary to keep children away from stress for their well being. Let us take a look at some of the harmful effects of stress on children.In this world where every child is a part of the rat race to be the best so that they can have a bright future, often experience stress as a side effect of participating in this race. While a certain amount of
stress is necessary in a child’s life to act as their driving force towards their goals, too much of it is bad.
A normal child’s brain produces numerous brain cells that help the child retain and take in more knowledge. But too much stress depleted many of these new cells thereby reducing the amount that a child can take in.
Besides lowering a child’s IQ level, here are the other effects of stress.
Anxiety
One of the most common and earliest symptoms of stress in a child is
anxiety. The stress does not let the child stop worrying. They are always anxious and jumpy and just cannot be content.
They always have a sense of fear surrounding them even though they do not know what they are actually frightened of at some points. Anxiety can also lead to reduction of concentration and will power. It is often the most dangerous effect of stress.
Decreased Appetite
After anxiety, decreasing appetite is the second most harmful effect of stress. As the stress increases, the child slowly starts withdrawing from food and after a point the food intake keeps getting less. If the child normally had two helpings during dinner then the same child under stress will have one helping or sometimes half a helping of food. Often times they just stop eating altogether.
Nightmares
Stress has always been known to be the cause of nightmares and in case of children this is heightened. Too much stress in a child, no matter what the cause is, results in them having nightmares and ends up disturbing their sleeping pattern. As the stress induced nightmares keep them up at night, they feel increasingly tired and irritated during the day, disrupting their work pattern.
Stuttering
Stuttering is a side effect that almost every child faces when under stress. This happens because their confidence level drops to a great extent. Stress causes them to believe that they can never be the best at anything they do.
Even if they are good at something or are answering a question correctly, they think it is wrong. So they stutter and pause so that they can take the answer back if they see any sign or disapproval. Stuttering also makes them anti-social and children under stress can end up losing friends.
Anger
Stress is always accompanied by anger. A child under stress is bound to get angry easily. Stress causes the child to be frustrated with himself or herself, which results in sudden bouts of raging anger. This anger not only causes the child to be unhappy but also keeps the people around them on their toes. Also, most of the time, this anger leads children to cry. Crying is a way that helps them vent out the stress building in.
So as parents you should keep in mind that a child under stress is in a very delicate and vulnerable state. If it is
academic stress, help them make time tables to even out what to study when so that they stay relaxed. If the stress is caused due to a fight then try to help them resolve the fight. But if the stress is due to
family issues, then it is your responsibility to make the child feel loved, safe and secure, no matter how your own state is. So try to keep your child happy and stress free!
What are the negative effects of stress on children? How to help children deal with stress? What are the ways to prevent stress in children? Discuss here.
