Children and Stress: a Handbook for Parents, Teachers, and Therapists

This book provides an overview of childhood stress and a wide array of creative activities that can be used to help children gain control over their stress. Included are activities that help children adopt healthy coping strategies, learn new stress management skills, and value the benefits of relaxation. Each fun and engaging activity is a complete lesson plan, providing all the detail an adult needs to conduct the activity and follow-up questions. This book is an essential resource for anyone who would like to help children deal with stress today, tomorrow, and throughout a lifetime. Section I provides background information to help parents, teachers and therapists effectively work with children. It summarizes information about stress in children, provides an overview of research on the immediate and long-term consequences of stress in children, and describes a continuum of stresses ranging from everday common stresses to more severe stress brought on by trauma. it does on to suggest ways that parents, teachers, and therapists can work at home, at school, and in healthcare settings to help children manage stress. Section II presents over 100 activities using a format that includes a title, purpose statement, objectives, timeline, activity description, step-by-step instructions, discussion questions, and reproducible worksheets, where necessary. The activities help children learn: What stress is and how to gain a sense of control; wahat coping strategies work now and in the future; how to change perspectives, regroup, and regain control during periods of stress; how to engage in relaxation activities that regain focus, calm emotions, and manage anxieties; and how childrern, parents, and all family members can work together to create a calm and healthy home environment.