by UpBrainery
Living in a fast-paced demanding society, we forget that our kids have to handle excessive stress daily. Stress is a way of our body taking various kinds of stress and reacting to it emotionally, physically, or psychologically.
It was only when I saw my kids go through educational stress, that I realized how intimidating and overwhelming it is for students. The looming idea of stress prevails as soon as a school year begins, leading to multiple cases of anxiety and depression in the student body.
While we as parents continue to build pressure on our children to excel in life and meet our requirements, we forget the pressure it builds upon them. During this entire process, we don’t realize that our kids need to learn stress management from the root level.
A study conducted by the American Psychological Association determined that teens have the same stress levels as adults. Not only are they unable to cope with this stress effectively but also get overwhelmed, depressed or sad because of it. Stress also leads to health issues including sleep disorders, poor diet, and little to no physical exercise.
Stress management education must be taught in our education system to support our kids from the burdens of stress at an early stage. Taking teachers and school bodies onboard this agenda has become a necessity with an increasing number of students complaining about anxiety and depression.
Stress management should also begin at home where children know they can rely on their parents. As parents, we need to ensure that we understand when our children are under stress and help them cope with it accordingly.
Stressed-out students are notorious for missing out on sleep especially when they have a pile of work to do. Lack of sleep is unhealthy and also has a direct effect on mood, studies, grades, and productivity. Schools should emphasize the necessity for at least 8 hours of sleep for students.
At home, you can initiate a routine where your child is well-rested and gets the necessary sleep before heading off to school each morning.
A great stress buffer is a strong support system including family and friends. With life complications and transitions in relationships, it is necessary to enhance one’s support network. The building of reliable support networks should be focused upon since its one of the most effective ways for students to cooperate with their stress.
While it can be difficult to maintain a support network within schools, institutions must understand the need for these networks for students. Having group-based discussions and projects can prove to be great de-stressors in children.
Blowing off steam through physical exertion is one of the best ways to cope with extra stress. Yoga, running, biking, and encouraging students to join extra sports classes should be recommended within classrooms. Research shows that students participating in some physical activity show lower stress levels than those who don’t.
School institutions should encourage all students to sign up for physical activity during school hours. While having visible benefits, these classes will also promote mental wellness within the student body.
We may not realize diet’s role in stress management. Stress may lead you toward sugary snacks which only provide temporary relief. A healthy diet boosts the mood and overall performance of students. Tactics like keeping a water bottle handy, carrying healthy snacks like dry fruits and nuts, and reducing caffeine intake should be brought to students’ notice.
Even though schools can’t possibly keep an eye out on every single student’s diet, they can encourage them to opt for healthier options. Health discussions within classrooms can be successful in deterring students from choosing unhealthy snacking options within school hours.
Kids shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when they feel overwhelmed with stress and are unable to cope with it. We, as families and teachers, should provide them with a safety net to rely on. Stress isn’t the same for everyone and it takes time for someone to identify it. Parents and teachers must be capable of managing our kids’ stress issues and helping them reduce those by becoming a part of their support network.
Stress management has been swept under the rug for many years leaving students to suffer alone while dealing with their stress. We’ve been quite casual with the idea of our children coping with stress which has led to multiple problems. Including stress management education in their daily discourse will not only guide them but will also ease the stress we feel as parents. Let’s work together to provide our children with the toolkit they need to face stressful situations.
Ghazal Qureshi is a (now) native Houstonian who came to Houston with her family from Pakistan in 12th grade. She is a Computer Scientist and has worked for over 20 years in the technology space. When she saw a lack of adaptive educational programs focused on developing critical thinking skills, she formed her first educational company in 2011, offering STEM afterschool programs. She grew from 1 location in Houston to over multiple countries. In early 2020, she was dissatisfied with the lack of innovation in education. For this reason, she exited her first company. She formed UpBrainery, as an Innovative and Immersive educational technology platform coupled with neuroscience research-based programs to provide adaptive learning and individualized pathways for students at home or in the classroom.
UpBrainery takes advantage of the technological advances in AI, Machine Learning, and game-based education to provide an immersive and engaging educational experience. Since its inception, UpBrainery has won major accolades through Google for Startups, Forbes Next 1000, Houston Business Journal, and others. UpBrainery is also the exclusive K12 educational pathway provider for the US Congressional App Challenge. www.UpBrainery.com
