Kids Stress managment
Stress related anxiety, panic attacks and depression have become common among students, especially those in Class X and XII, says Shalini Somesh, Consultant Rehabilitation Child Psychologist at Masonic Children's Hospital. The school, teachers, parents and friends indirectly pile pressure on the student to perform well and it manifests during the examination time, she adds. Parents have an important role in helping their children perform well in board examinations. "Primarily, the environment at home should be conflict-free. Parents who display anger will only add to the stress of the child," she says. The home environment has to be calm and parents should spend quality time with their child. Healthy food, exercise and entertainment are also extremely important for students who are preparing for their board examinations as their mind requires relaxation too, Dr.Shalini observes. "Parents should find out if there are any problems their child is facing and try to address them instead of forcing the child to concentrate only on studies," she says. Comparison with others is another problem that increases the pressure on students. Schools should also take care not to compare one student with another, she says.Agitation, depression, reduced food intake, fatigue and reluctance to go to school and avoiding studies are all symptoms of stress. Parents should identify these problems in their children early. Some children may need professional help, she says. Students should also try to reduce stress by planning out their study activities. Avoiding last-minute preparation and having a clear career plan in mind as early as Class IX will also help them in balancing academic pressure.According to Suriyaprakash, Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (Organisational) and Secretary of Asha Counselling and Training Services, a minimum amount of stress is needed to bring out the best in children. Otherwise it may lead to complacency. But, once it crosses the desirable level, the productivity goes down. "Today's younger generation is vocal. They will talk back and this will lead to unnecessary tension," he says. If some relaxation time is weaved into their schedules, they will study better. Most of the anxiety is passed on to the child much earlier than the exams. This is because of the unrealistic expectations of the parents. "At a deeper psychological level, it is the parents' unfulfilled wish that they try to impose on their children," he says. Performance anxiety is not just during examinations. "We have been receiving cases throughout the year. Some parents bring children even when they are in Class VI," he says. "Concern is allright, but they shouldn't be paranoid about their child's academic performance," Mr. Suriya says.
