Childhood Stress (kidshealth.org)

As providers and caretakers, adults tend to view the world of children as happy and carefree. After all, kids don't have jobs to keep or bills to pay, so what could they possibly have to worry about?

Plenty! Even very young children have worries and feel stress to some degree.

Sources of Stress

Stress is a function of the demands placed on us and our ability to meet them. These demands often come from outside sources, such as family, jobs, friends, or school. But it also can come from within, often related to what we think we should be doing versus what we're actually able to do.

So stress can affect anyone who feels overwhelmed — even kids. In preschoolers, separation from parents can cause anxiety. As kids get older, academic and social pressures (especially from trying to fit in) create stress.

Many kids are too busy to have time to play creatively or relax after school. Kids who complain about all their activities or who refuse to go to them might be overscheduled. Talk with your kids about how they feel about extracurricular activities. If they complain, discuss the pros and cons of stopping one activity. If stopping isn't an option, explore ways to help manage your child's time and responsibilities to lessen the anxiety.

Kids' stress may be intensified by more than just what's happening in their own lives. Do your kids hear you talking about troubles at work, worrying about a relative's illness, or arguing with your spouse about financial matters? Parents should watch how they discuss such issues when their kids are near because children will pick up on their parents' anxieties and start to worry themselves.

World news can cause stress. Kids who see disturbing images on TV or hear talk of natural disasters, war, and terrorism may worry about their own safety and that of the people they love. Talk to your kids about what they see and hear, and monitor what they watch on TV so that you can help them understand what's going on.

Also, be aware of complicating factors, such as an illness, death of a loved one, or a divorce. When these are added to the everyday pressures kids face, the stress is magnified. Even the most amicable divorce can be a difficult experience for kids because their basic security system — their family — is undergoing a tough change. Separated or divorced parents should never put kids in a position of having to choose sides or expose them to negative comments about the other spouse.

Also realize that some things that aren't a big deal to adults can cause significant stress for kids. Let your kids know that you understand they're stressed and don't dismiss their feelings as inappropriate.

Signs and Symptoms

While it's not always easy to recognize when kids are stressed out, short-term behavioral changes — such as mood swings, acting out, changes in sleep patterns, or bedwetting — can be indications. Some kids experience physical effects, including stomachaches and headaches. Others have trouble concentrating or completing schoolwork. Still others become withdrawn or spend a lot of time alone.

Younger children may pick up new habits like thumb sucking, hair twirling, or nose picking; older kids may begin to lie, bully, or defy authority. A child who is stressed may also have nightmares, difficulty leaving you, overreactions to minor problems, and drastic changes in academic performance.

Reducing Stress

How can you help kids cope with stress? Proper rest and good nutrition can boost coping skills, as can good parenting. Make time for your kids each day. Whether they need to talk or just be in the same room with you, make yourself available. Don't try to make them talk, even if you know what they're worried about. Sometimes kids just feel better when you spend time with them on fun activities.

Even as kids get older, quality time is important. It's really hard for some people to come home after work, get down on the floor, and play with their kids or just talk to them about their day — especially if they've had a stressful day themselves. But expressing interest shows that they're important to you.

Help your child cope with stress by talking about what may be causing it. Together, you can come up with a few solutions like cutting back on after-school activities, spending more time talking with parents or teachers, developing an exercise regimen, or keeping a journal.

You can also help by anticipating potentially stressful situations and preparing kids for them. For example, let your son or daughter know ahead of time that a doctor's appointment is coming up and talk about what will happen there. Tailor the information to your child's age — younger kids won't need as much advance preparation or details as older kids or teens.

Remember that some level of stress is normal; let your kids know that it's OK to feel angry, scared, lonely, or anxious and that other people share those feelings. Reassurance is important, so remind them that you're confident that they can handle the situation.

Helping Your Child Cope

When kids can't or won't discuss their stressful issues, try talking about your own. This shows that you're willing to tackle tough topics and are available to talk with when they're ready. If a child shows symptoms that concern you and is unwilling to talk, consult a counselor or other mental health specialist.

Books can help young kids identify with characters in stressful situations and learn how they cope. Check out Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert, Chuck DeKlyen, and Taylor Bills; and Dinosaurs Divorce by Marc Brown and Laurene Krasny Brown.

Most parents have the skills to deal with their child's stress. The time to seek professional attention is when any change in behavior persists, when stress is causing serious anxiety, or when the behavior is causing significant problems in functioning at school or at home.

If you need help finding resources for your child, consult your doctor or the counselors and teachers at school.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Shroff Pendley, PhD
Date reviewed: August 2011

Source:  http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/stress.html#

Body Image and Self-Esteem (kidshealth.org)

Does any of this sound familiar? "I'm too tall." "I'm too short." "I'm too skinny." "If only I were shorter/taller/had curly hair/straight hair/a smaller nose/longer legs, I'd be happy."

Are you putting yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As a teen, you're going through lots of changes in your body. And, as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. It's not always easy to like every part of your looks, but when you get stuck on the negatives it can really bring down your self-esteem.

Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?

Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth — and how much you feel other people value you. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect your mental health and how you behave.

People with high self-esteem know themselves well. They're realistic and find friends that like and appreciate them for who they are. People with high self-esteem usually feel more in control of their lives and know their own strengths and weaknesses.

Body image is how you view your physical self — including whether you feel you are attractive and whether others like your looks. For many people, especially people in their early teens, body image can be closely linked to self-esteem.

What Influences a Person's Self-Esteem?

Puberty and Development

Some people struggle with their self-esteem and body image when they begin puberty because it's a time when the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with wanting to feel accepted by our friends, means it can be tempting to compare ourselves with others. The trouble with that is, not everyone grows or develops at the same time or in the same way.

Media Images and Other Outside Influences

Our tweens and early teens are a time when we become more aware of celebrities and media images — as well as how other kids look and how we fit in. We might start to compare ourselves with other people or media images ("ideals" that are frequently airbrushed). All of this can affect how we feel about ourselves and our bodies even as we grow into our teens.

Families and School

Family life can sometimes influence our body image. Some parents or coaches might be too focused on looking a certain way or "making weight" for a sports team. Family members might struggle with their own body image or criticize their kids' looks ("why do you wear your hair so long?" or "how come you can't wear pants that fit you?"). This can all influence a person's self-esteem, especially if they're sensitive to others peoples' comments.

People also may experience negative comments and hurtful teasing about the way they look from classmates and peers. Although these often come from ignorance, sometimes they can affect body image and self-esteem.

Healthy Self-Esteem

If you have a positive body image, you probably like and accept yourself the way you are, even if you don't fit some media "ideal." This healthy attitude allows you to explore other aspects of growing up, such as developing good friendships, becoming more independent from your parents, and challenging yourself physically and mentally. Developing these parts of yourself can help boost your self-esteem.

A positive, optimistic attitude can help people develop strong self-esteem. For example, if you make a mistake, you might want to say, "Hey, I'm human" instead of "Wow, I'm such a loser" or not blame others when things don't go as expected.

Knowing what makes you happy and how to meet your goals can help you feel capable, strong, and in control of your life. A positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle (such as exercising and eating right) are a great combination for building good self-esteem.

Tips for Improving Body Image

Some people think they need to change how they look to feel good about themselves. But all you need to do is change the way you see your body and how you think about yourself. Here are some tips on doing that:

Recognize that your body is your own, no matter what shape or size it comes in. Try to focus on how strong and healthy your body is and the things it can do, not what's wrong with it or what you feel you want to change about it. If you're worried about your weight or size, check with your doctor to verify that things are OK. But it's no one's business but your own what your body is like — ultimately, you have to be happy with yourself.

Identify which aspects of your appearance you can realistically change and which you can't. Humans, by definition, are imperfect. It's what makes each of us unique and original! Everyone (even the most perfect-seeming celeb) has things that they can't change and need to accept — like their height, for example, or their shoe size. Remind yourself that "real people aren't perfect and perfect people aren't real (they're usually airbrushed!)".

If there are things about yourself that you want to change and can, do this by making goals for yourself. For example, if you want to get fit, make a plan to exercise every day and eat healthy. Then keep track of your progress until you reach your goal. Meeting a challenge you set for yourself is a great way to boost self-esteem!

When you hear negative comments coming from within, tell yourself to stop. Appreciate that each person is more than just how he or she looks on any given day. We're complex and constantly changing. Try to focus on what's unique and interesting about yourself.

Try building your self-esteem by giving yourself three compliments every day. While you're at it, every evening list three things in your day that really gave you pleasure. It can be anything from the way the sun felt on your face, the sound of your favorite band, or the way someone laughed at your jokes. By focusing on the good things you do and the positive aspects of your life, you can change how you feel about yourself.

Some people with physical disabilities or differences may feel they are not seen for their true selves because of their bodies and what they can and can't do. Other people may have such serious body image issues that they need a bit more help. Working with a counselor or therapist can help some people gain perspective and learn to focus on their individual strengths as well as develop healthier thinking.

Where Can I Go if I Need Help?

Sometimes low self-esteem and body image problems are too much to handle alone. A few teens may become depressed, and lose interest in activities or friends. Some go on to develop eating or body image disorders, and can become depressed or use alcohol or drugs to escape feelings of low worth.

If you're feeling this way, it can help to talk to a parent, coach, religious leader, guidance counselor, therapist, or friend. A trusted adult — someone who supports you and doesn't bring you down — can help you put your body image in perspective and give you positive feedback about your body, your skills, and your abilities.

If you can't turn to anyone you know, call a teen crisis hotline (an online search can give you the information for national and local hotlines). The most important thing is to get help if you feel like your body image and self-esteem are affecting your life.

Reviewed by: Michelle J. New, PhD
Date reviewed: March 2012

Source:  http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/wellbeing/body_image.html#

El tiempo en el aprendizaje (laguia2000.com)

 

El tiempo en el aprendizaje es muy importante en muchos sentidos. Por un lado hay que respetar los tiempos de cada alumno. Tal vez alguno necesite más tiempo que otro para aprehender algún contenido o hacer una tarea. Por eso es importante dar varias fechas para cumplimentarlas. Lo importante es lograr que el alumno aprenda. Si lo hace unos días más tarde no es significativo, pero sí será un fracaso, si el alumno no logra el objetivo por fijar pautas temporales rígidas, y muchas veces esto puede desembocar en deserción del sistema escolar. Por supuesto, con límites, y estímulos para los que las efectúan en tiempo y forma, para aprender el sentido de la responsabilidad.

 

Por otro lado también es importante enseñar a manejar los tiempos. Por ejemplo en un examen es fundamental que el alumno sepa el tiempo del que dispone y programe las respuestas de acuerdo a ello. Si son muchas preguntas y el tiempo es escaso, deberá darse cuenta que debe sintetizar las respuestas para que el tiempo le alcance, o si tiene que estudiar una cantidad considerable de contenidos, y tiene para hacerlo una semana, lo mejor será que lo distribuya en cada día de la semana y no trate de estudiar todo junto a último momento. Planificar el tiempo debe ser parte de los contenidos a enseñar.

Los maestros también deben tomar en cuenta el tiempo para preparar sus clases, pues no pueden dar a sus alumnos tareas que no alcancen a terminar en la hora de clase, si al dar las consignas se dijo que debían concluirlas en ese lapso; ni tampoco que sobre demasiado tiempo, pues cuando los educandos se aburren sobreviene la indisciplina. Programar el tiempo brinda eficacia al aprendizaje, pues lo hace productivo.

Fuente: http://educacion.laguia2000.com/aprendizaje/el-tiempo-en-el-aprendizaje

Aprendizaje repetitivo (laguia2000.com)

El aprendizaje repetitivo consiste en reiterar muchas veces la lectura de un escrito, en general por oraciones y en voz alta, a las que se le van agregando otras en forma progresiva, hasta que se aloje en la memoria y seamos capaces de reproducirlo literalmente sin comprenderlo. También se lo llama estudiar “a lo loro” pues este pajarito tiene la habilidad de repetir palabras o frases cuando se las reiteramos a menudo. Se lo usa con frecuencia para estudiar las tablas de multiplicar o para memorizar poesías. No está mal para agilizar las tareas, o no cambiar la belleza del escrito, pero primero se debe hacer un análisis comprensivo de por qué da ese resultado en el primer caso, o el sentido y análisis del poema en el segundo.

Otra denominación que recibe el aprendizaje por repetición es aprendizaje memorístico, pero en realidad la memoria siempre interviene en los procesos de aprendizaje, aún cuando se lo haga significativamente, siendo una facultad compleja y absolutamente necesaria para almacenar la información y poder recuperarla.

La diferencia entre un aprendizaje repetitivo y uno memorístico es que el primero se aloja en la memoria a corto plazo, y no tiene ninguna significación para la persona que lo guardó, por eso es más difícil recuperarlo luego de un tiempo, o cuando uno se olvida alguna palabra con la que la siguiente está enlazada. En cambio el aprendizaje significativo al tener relación con otros conocimientos antes adquiridos, tiene sentido para el sujeto que los relaciona y puede evocarlo luego de un período mucho más prolongado.

Fuente:  http://educacion.laguia2000.com/aprendizaje/aprendizaje-repetitivo

Relajación para estudiar (laguia2000.com)

 

Estudiar es una actividad estresante cuando se la toma con responsabilidad, especialmente durante los períodos de evaluación. La tensión nerviosa que acompaña al estudiante puede provocarle irritabilidad, cambios en los patrones de sueño y alimentación e incluso trastornos digestivos, dolores de cabeza, mareos, etcétera, lo que es obviamente indeseable, ya que el estudio no debe transformarse en una carga traumática sino que es un derecho, deber en algunos casos, que sería bueno poder disfrutarse.

 

Sin llegar a proponer soluciones mágicas, existen técnicas de relajación, que no demandan en su práctica más que algunos minutos, y que permiten al estudiante controlar sus tensiones, para poder relajarse, y en consecuencia sentirse mejor en su salud física y mental, para poder concentrarse, ya que estando alterado no lo logrará. 

Dedicarle a la relajación un rato diario, acostándose en una colchoneta, cerrando los ojos y pensando en algo placentero, con una música muy suave, respirar concientemente, inhalando en cuatro pasos y luego expulsando el aire por la nariz, realizar pequeñas caminatas por sitios sin congestión de gente, por ejemplo una plaza, comer en forma sana, beber líquidos en abundancia, no restarle horas al descanso nocturno, puede contribuir a sentirse más tranquilo. No es cuestión de estar muchas horas estudiando, sino hacerlo en óptimas condiciones psicofísicas, para que el tiempo que se le dedique mucho (es lo deseable) o poco (si se está en período de tratar de relajarse) sea eficiente.

El lugar que se destine al estudio también debe ser adecuado, tratando de que no se sufran interrupciones ni ruidos, que distraigan y perturben.

El yoga es sumamente aconsejable para los estudiantes, y sus posiciones iniciales (que sirven a estos fines) muy fáciles de practicar.

Fuente:  http://educacion.laguia2000.com/estrategias-didacticas/relajacion-para-estudiar