What to do?
If you notice performance stress in your child, help them. It’s up to you to change the situation for them.
They must know you are there to help:
- Express their feelings. Help them confide in you and let them feel at ease to tell you how they truly feel. Listen to them without looking for immediate solutions. Your child must feel like they can share their thoughts without being judged. Don’t downplay their emotions.
- Reduce their stress load. Find strategies to encourage relaxation. If you notice that your child has a lot of school performance stress, it could be a good idea to look at the importance you attach to grades. Why do you ask so much your child? Is it overwhelming? How can you make them want to succeed without stressing them out?
It is important to know that if we, as parents, are stressed out, our kids will probably be too. It’s better to find ways to deal with our own stress first. We all need time to slow down, especially in this society where we feel rushed and things are intense. Can we prevent our children from getting into this chaos a little longer? We already don’t take the time to enjoy unplanned, unorganized activities. When was the last time you just stayed home with your family and did nothing? What if we all allowed more time for spontaneous activities and stopped trying to control everything?
