Reducing Stress at Home and School

Although these examples show how parents and teachers can make changes to help with common problems facing students, simply acknowledging everyday stressors in the home or in the classroom and dealing with them can also be very helpful. The following strategies can help to de-escalate student stress, which in turn can help students be even more ready to engage in the learning process:

• Talk openly about stress, what it is and what it feels like. Share your own stressors and how you feel when stressed, and what you do that helps you “de-stress.” This can lead to children sharing with each other (at home or in the classroom) how they handle stress.
• Also, talk with children about the various negative ways that some people handle stress, and the consequences of these negative responses. Talk about alternative actions that might have better results.
• Be sure to have “stress-free” time at home and at school. Set aside time to write in a journal, draw, squeeze a stress ball, read, or choose from other acceptable activities. Let children figure out what works for them and suggest their own “decompression” activities.
• At school, teachers can provide students and parents with list of adults in the school whom students can seek out if they feel the need to talk to someone about stressful situations (e.g. school psychologist, school counselor, school nurse, school social worker, etc.). It is important that parents know who on staff is available and understand such issues as confidentiality and when they will be asked to give consent for their child to talk with one of these professionals.

Although most types of stress can be addressed through these suggestions, there are some serious types of stress that require professional help. One example is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which sometimes results from a significant crisis event in the individual’s life (such as abuse, a house fire, witnessing the death of a parent, etc.). In these situations, the symptoms may be more overt and require more specialized intervention that what is available through family and school support. Consultation with the school psychologist, school counselor, or school social worker will help parents to identify the most appropriate resource in the community.

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