From The American Academy of Pediatrics

As children reach their school-age years, they may experience pressure from several sources. These may be from within the children themselves, as well as from parents, teachers, peers, and the larger society.

This pressure can take many forms, to which children must respond and adapt. Whether these events are lasting, like their parents’ divorce, or merely a minor hassle like losing their homework, these demands or stresses are a part of children’s daily lives.

Dealing with stress in daily life Children welcome some events and can adapt to them with relative ease. Other events may feel to them like threats to their own or the family’s daily routines or a general sense of well-being. These stresses can be more troublesome. Most stress children face somewhere in the middle: neither welcomed nor seriously harmful, but rather a part of accomplishing the tasks of childhood and learning about themselves.

Children may have to cope with a bully on the playground, a move to a new neighborhood, a parent’s serious illness, or the disappointment of a poor sports performance. They might feel a constant, nagging pressure to dress the “right” way or to achieve the high grades that can put them on track toward the “right” college. Children may also worry about making friends, dealing with peer pressure, or overcoming a physical injury or disability.

Good and bad stress Not all stress is a bad thing. For example, moderate amounts of pressure from a teacher or a coach can motivate a child to keep her grades up in school or to participate more fully in athletic activities. Successfully managing stressful situations or events enhances a child’s ability to cope in the future.

Children are future adults; through these experiences, they develop resilience and learn to deal with life’s inevitable bumps and hurdles. However, when the stress is continuous or particularly intense, it can take a toll on both the psyche and the body.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Board Certified Pediatricians for more information about how to help your child handle stressful situations they may be experiencing.