Stress and anxiety in children

Warning signs that your child is stressed include:

• Mood swings
• Trouble sleeping
• Nightmares
• Bedwetting
• Trouble doing schoolwork
• Stomach aches
• Headaches
• Preferring to spend time alone
• Overreacting to minor problems
• Starting new habits like thumb-sucking

Your child will find it easier to cope with stress if you talk to them about what’s causing it. Tell them it’s normal to feel stressed now and again, but it’s also good to know how to relax and make yourself feel better when they’re upset.

As a parent, you might think that childhood is always a happy and carefree time. Children don’t have to pay bills or have jobs like adults, so what do they really have to worry about?

The truth is that there are many reasons a child might feel stressed or anxious. There are many small things you can do - or bot do - to help them cope.

If you send out the message that your child must do well in tests, it can create too much anxiety for them. It’s also important to be realistic about your child’s abilities - maybe you did well in exams when you were at school, but that doesn’t mean that your child will too.

As a parent, be careful what you say - even when you don’t think your child is listening to you. Sometimes, children overhear parents talking about money worries or problems they’re having at work and they start to feel anxious about these things themselves.

You’ll probably be able to help your child when they feel stressed. But if their anxiety goes on for longer than a month, or if it greatly affects how they are at home or their behaviour at school, you might want to speak to their teachers or even ask your doctor for professional help.