extra time to stay connected. Ask yourself if any extra activity will benefit your kids or cause undue stress.
Watch for Signs of Distress No family is perfect, and there may be times when you and your children experi- ence added strain and stressors. Parents may argue about finances, discipline, household chores or relationship prob- lems. It’s ok to disagree, but you should handle the disagreement in a respectful manner. By modeling healthy ways to deal with conflict, you will help your children develop the skills necessary to deal with it appropriately. If arguments become verbally or physically abusive or are not resolved, it’s time to seek help and discuss the issues in private so kids can- not hear. When experiencing relationship problems, it’s important to watch for signs of distress in your children. Changes in sleep patterns, dropping grades or kids acting out or becoming withdrawn from family and friends are signs that they may be overwhelmed and stressed.
Yes, You Can! Deep breathing is a simple exercise to teach your kids for managing stress. They can do it anywhere or anytime they are feeling stressed. This exercise help kids to stop, relax and refocus. It can even reduce the stress response, which can feel overpowering and overwhelming. Other strategies include drawing pictures, journaling, talking to a close friend or an adult, playing with a pet and exercising. Try going for a walk as a family. Teaching optimistic thinking can help
to promote a sense of resilience. Think of The Little Engine That Could, in which the Little Blue Engine was faced with climbing over a very large hill to get to the other side of the mountain. The Little Blue En- gine said, “I think I can, I think I can.” As it started to climb to the top of the mountain, the train became more confident and said, “I thought I could, I thought I could!”
Dianna Inman, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHS, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky.
Take the time to stay connected with your family
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100