Although not enough to eat salt acid life, not impossible toddlers stress. In fact, children are more vulnerable to stress than adults. Because, they have not learned how to effectively solve problems in all situations. So, what causes stress in toddlers and how do parents deal with it?
Overview of stress
Stress usually starts from feeling overwhelmed due to the many pressures from outside and in someone who has been going on for a long time. Stress itself is the body's reaction to unexpected changes in physical or emotional situations, so the body will react and respond to it as a safeguard. The body reacts to stress by giving physical, mental, and emotional responses.
The body reacts to everything it considers to be a danger, whether it is really harmful or not. When the body feels threatened, a chemical reaction will occur in the body that allows you to protect yourself. When your body responds to stress, you will feel your heart rate increase, breathing faster, muscles tighten, and blood pressure increase.
The ability to process human stress has begun in the first 3 years of life.
Why are toddlers stressed out?
The stressors of each person are different. The cause of stressful toddlers is generally because they are hungry, bored, lonely, or sleepy but they cannot fulfill this desire for one reason or another.
Children often do not understand correctly about the frightening sensations that arise as a response to this stress. They also have not been able to explain what they feel or describe the uncomfortable or frightening situations they experience.
Finally, they show what they feel through behavior. For example, through crying without stopping or exploding tantrums. It can all be a way for children to tell their parents that something threatening or frightening is happening to them.
Then, what is the impact of stress on toddlers?
Prolonged stress in children will have an impact on brain function. Stress in toddlers that occur continuously can force the brain to produce high amounts of stress hormone cortisol permanently.
The hormone cortisol that is continuously very high will make the body always feel tense and anxious at all times. The level of cortisol in the brain that is always high can also make it difficult for children to control stress in adulthood. If not handled properly, stress on toddlers can increase the risk of children being depressed and develop aggressive behavior as they age.
What are the signs of a toddler stress?
There are signs that parents can observe which indicate that toddlers are experiencing stress.
- Cry
- Like to whine
- Like bedwetting
- Nightmare
- Afraid of darkness
- Emotional change (looks sad, more spoiled, withdrawn, or angry)
- Fussy, irritable, or annoyed
- Raging or showing a bigger than usual anger outburst
- Hard to sleep
- Like biting your nails and sucking your thumb or hair
How to deal with stress in toddlers?
1. Teach relaxation techniques
When children are stressed, give activities that can control their behavior. This activity aims to make children more relaxed. Some ways include: deep breathing repeatedly, listening to music, reading stories, or inviting drawing and coloring.
2. Don't be scolded
Make children feel understood and loved, not by scolding them. Tell your child that you are not upset when the child is always biting his nails or bedwetting so that the child feels safe. By scolding, children will not stop their behavior, even make children more afraid.
3. Show affection
Touch and comfort. Hugs from parents can provide a safe and comfortable feeling for toddlers who are frantic.
4. Create a routine
Get used to doing scheduled routines. Scheduled mealtime, playtime and sleep time can give children a sense of familiarity and strengthen their sense of security.
5. Explain to the child that stress is normal
Tell the child about the stressful events you have felt. For children to understand that it's okay to feel scared, sad, or angry. Also let us know how to deal with these situations. This method makes them not feel alone in facing frightening situations and makes children more courageous to talk about what they feel too.
6. Fishing children to tell stories
Create an atmosphere that makes children feel comfortable and safe to ask questions or tell stories. Let the child know that he can ask anything. Ask any child that he saw today, what he heard, and what he felt about the events experienced. Give answers honestly, but make sure that the answers match their age so the child can understand.