Understanding a Child’s Stresses and Anxieties
As a parent it is important that we understand what potential problems our child has. Most children have certain things that they worry about or even fear. In this article, I write about the types of fears that this might be and about how we can help our children to cope and to get through life in the best possible and stress-free way.
I am by now a child social worker and what I write within this article is just my own personal opinion. I actually offer a web promotion service; I am also involved with a company that enables people to make cheap phone calls and on a weekend I help out at a local DVD authoring firm – rather busy as you can see!
Many children are able to pick up on what their parents are worrying about. Money is a perfect example; the child may have listened to its parents discussing their money worries, this can then potentially make the child start to become anxious about the family’s financial situation. I am a parent myself and try where possible to only discuss serious issues with my partner when the children are out or are asleep. I am quick to re-assure my own child if I am of the opinion that he has overheard a conversation that in truth I would have preferred he had not listened to.
Children may also worry that their parents may break up and that they will end up living apart. They will no doubt hear that this has happened to their friends and may wonder and stress about how their lives would change if this happened to them.
My children have told me that they worry and that they fear that one of their parents may die in the near future. It is quite difficult to explain to them that this is unlikely to happen as it obviously could. I try and laugh it off which may not be the best policy, by stating that I am still very young and that I have no plans to leave this planet in the near future. I explain to them the age that the average male will live to in our country and that normally, I hope, makes them feel better.
Another form of stress and anxiety for many children, is of course, attending school. Will they be able to comprehend all of the work that they are given? Will they be able to obtain a good examination mark and a good report? Will they be able to make their parents proud of them? I have told my own children not to worry about these issues and to just try their best.
Socialising and meeting friends can also bring its own tensions. I am sure that we all remember our own childhoods and the fact that we regularly break friends but that we normally, eventually, make up again. When friends fall out this can be a very stressful time for any child. When this happens to my children, I make a point of saying that it has been the fourth time in a month that you and Amy as an example, have had a falling out. Your sure to make friends again in the near future.
As children get a bit older there is then the challenge of meeting a member of the opposite sex. We all know the problems and strains that this can bring. At this time I think it is just a matter of being there for your children and getting them through these difficult years the best and easiest way possible.