It's not easy being a kid

I think many adults don't realize that being a kid can be stressful. Being a kid means going to school, watching cartoons, and playing with friends...right? Not exactly! Being a kid is actually a lot more complicated than adults think.

I came across a webpage, Child & Family C A N A D A, by Pat Bragg and she stated that "Children experience stress differently than adults and the same child may experience it differently at different times". She also categorizes causes of stress into four categories:

• "Physical stressors - caused by factors such as poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, temperature extremes, illness/disease, lack of light, growth spurts and ability leaps".



• "Changes in a child's life - such as a new routine, different caregiver, unfamiliar environment, disruption in home life or entry into a new developmental stage. Any change, no matter how positive, will create stress".




• "Feelings - (both positive and negative) Extreme emotions of joy or excitement can be just as difficult to cope with as feelings of fear, confusion, or anger".




• "Too much of anything can be stressful - An over-abundance of activity, freedom, stimulation, structure, challenge or boredom can be difficult for a child to handle".

This information was very helpful for me. I think anyone that deals with children (parents, daycare workers, babysitters, teachers, etc.) should know this information to help understand why a child might be acting a certain way. I know that the next time my daughter starts acting out I will try to be aware of any of the above stressors that might be causing my daughter's behavior.

Sources

Bragg, Pat. (1995). Kidstress. Child & Family C A N A D A. Retrieved 03/20/08 from http://www.cfc-efc.ca/docs/cccf/00014_en.htm.

Honaker, Judy. (2007, Nov. 9). K-5 Technology Activities to Reinforce Standards of Learning. WCS. Retrieved 03/21/08 from http://www.wcs.k12.va.us/users/honaker/sesame4.jpg.

OLVSchool. (2008, March 19). Middle States Evaluation. OLVSchool.org. Retrieved 03/21/08 from http://www.olvschool.org/school_bus.jpg.