Kids and Stress
According to Dr. James Rouse, a recent study found that a high stress environment increased (nearly doubled) the child’s risk of developing obesity.
Adults aren’t the only ones feeling stress these days. Kids are feeling it too and experiencing some of the negative health effects that coincide with stress. A recent study compared five- and six-year-olds living in low-stress versus high-stress household environments. The results revealed that a high stress environment increased (nearly doubled) the child’s risk of developing obesity.
Kids, especially school-aged kids, have enough stress to cope with outside of the home. Test taking, bullying, wondering whether or not you “fit in” or whether someone likes you or thinks you’re good looking can all be stressful. As parents these events are somewhat out of our hands. The birth of a new sibling, death of a relative or parent, divorce or remarriage, parental fighting or problems, financial worries … these are stress components that only add to the predicament.
Stress likely adds to a number of other factors (lack of exercise, poor diet) that increase a child’s risk of becoming obese. Kids need a way to express and release their feelings. Here are some proactive steps that parents and providers can take to help reduce that risk and support our kids:
1. Talk and Listen to Your Kids
Kids may not act like they want to talk, but in a recent poll, over three quarters of kids surveyed said they want their parents help in times of trouble. Kids often need help problem solving and could use reassurance that everything is going to be okay. Listen. Be patient. Do your best not to judge or criticize.
2. Spend time together
When you spend time with your kids you know what they are doing. This doesn’t mean spend time eating ice cream or driving through the fast food window, but actually hanging out together. Take walks (if you have a family dog this makes the process a little easier), help your child with his/her homework, share your thoughts about what you see going on. Listen to music together and be open to new styles of music.
3. Find new outlets of creativity
Emotional eating or eating out of boredom is a problem for adults and kids alike. If your kid has too much free time in his/her day, get them involved in after-school activities like sports, art, or music. There are often plenty of community centers that provide access to dozens or hundreds of low-cost possibilities for kids afterschool.
4. Keep healthy snacks on hand
First, make sure you’re your child eats a healthy breakfast every day before heading out to school or weekend activities. You can control, to a certain extent, what your child eats at home. Pack a healthy lunch and have plenty of healthy snacks available when they get home from school. Fresh fruit, string cheese, whole grain crackers, smoothies, natural yogurts, cottage cheese, pre-cut veggies – these are all great examples.
5. Practice Stress Reduction techniques together
Yoga, meditation, journaling – these are three activities that can really help reduce overall stress in the body. Calm, relaxed breathing can help soothe rattled nerves and racing hearts. Model healthy behavior. Take care of yourself first so that your child can learn and see first hand what that can do to help reduce stress.
October 23, 2009
by Optimum WellnessComments
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