If our child has trouble recognising they are stressed, we can identify what they are feeling and start a conversation in a non-confrontational manner. For example, we could say, “It seems like you are looking a little stressed, how was your day?”. Casual observations like this can show that we care.

We can listen attentively and avoid any urges to lecture or judge them. It also helps to offer a listening ear instead of trying to fix their problems quickly.

When going through stressful situations, our child may feel certain unpleasant emotions and could struggle to identify them.

We can try to help them notice and identify these emotions using the feelings tracker and the emotions explorer, to make sense of their feelings.

It may be tempting to offer solutions immediately when our child share their problems. Here are some ways we can encourage them to solve problems independently:

Clear up their schedule from excessive commitments to provide them with ample rest. Rest is important in helping our child manage their stress.

Encourage them to be more organised and plan their time in advance, if they are not already doing so. This gives them a clear overview of the tasks that needs to be done and can help our child gain a sense of control.

Allowing our child to take time off from schoolwork for self-care time helps to reduce their stress.

If they love the outdoors, take them out for a short walk or for a bike ride. If they want to just unwind indoors, encourage them to read books, watch movies or take a relaxing nap.

Exercise keeps our child fit and releases endorphins, known as ‘happy hormones’. We could exercise with them by:

Breathing techniques can help our child to relax their minds and bodies. We can teach them some techniques:

Encourage our child to get at least 9 to 11 hours of sleep every night for ample rest. Good sleep helps with:

Our child might be setting high expectations for themselves, causing them significant stress to live up to these standards. They may develop negative thoughts if they are unable to meet these expectations.

We can remind them that unrealistic expectations can be managed by being kind to themselves and getting a new perspective. We can voice out our concerns if we feel that these expectations are not realistic and guide them to be objective in assessing their standards.

As children often model after their parents, it is important for us to set realistic expectations for our child when they are young.

We are what we eat. A well-rounded diet provides our bodies with adequate vitamins and minerals to boost our immune system.

Make nutritious meals for them or encourage them to eat smartly when dining outside. Healthy food gives them energy to tackle daily challenges or stressors.

Remind them that seeking help or opening up about their feelings is not a sign of weakness. Sharing can give them a fresh perspective on how to tide over their stressful period and help relieve any pent-up worries.

Here are some ways we can encourage conversation:

Our children learn by watching us, so as parents, role-modelling a healthy way of managing our stress helps to guide our children in handling theirs.

We can share our personal experiences, such as strategies that we use to calm ourselves if we get nervous before a presentation at work.

This can also show our children that it is normal to experience stress and that it can be handled effectively.