by Katherine D

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: September 06, 2010

Childhood stress is a common problem that does not get the exposure it deserves. Children of all ages can experience stress, recognizing the signs and taking action is the key to helping your child's mental and physical well-being. Stress in children can cause a variety of health issues and can quickly lead to severe depression if ignored.

There are many causes of stress in children, change is the main culprit in childhood stress and it comes in many forms;

Separation is a major cause of stress among children. Even as babies and toddlers, children experience great stress during the absence of a parent. A short time spent in day care, or at school, can have a great effect on the way your child behaves. Knowing your child's routine while they are away can often help to curb the stress level. Children often have no sense of time, so telling your child you will pick them up after snack time or playtime often helps them to understand how long they have to wait.

School is another common factor in children's stress levels. Along with the separation from their parents, school aged children have to cope with social status, education, extra curricular activities, and often high demands from their family. Be sure your child is not being overwhelmed with activities; limit the number of sports or other activities your child participates in to a threshold they can easily handle. Remind your child that if they ever need to talk you are available, or there is a school councilor available to them. It is also important that you prepare your child for starting school for the first time, often we are so excited and wrapped up in our own feelings that we forget to ask our children how they are feeling. It is important to communicate with your child, especially when they are first beginning, or going to a new school, to find out how they are feeling about the situation.

Home life can often produce a large amount of stress for children. Adults often accept stress as a part of everyday life without considering the effects that stress has on the younger members of the household. Divorce, separation, and martial issues are highly stressful for children of any age. Allowing your child to be upset and helping them talk about their feelings will lessen the stress they feel. Violence in the home will also intensify a child’s stress level, many couples opt to stay in abusive and volatile situations because they believe that it is what is best for the children, but violence in the home

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