Stress Management: How Teachers and Parents Can Help

A certain amount of stress is normal, in fact, it’s healthy. Positive stress responses from events such as changing schools, making new friends or building a rapport with new teachers. These events are helpful as they allow students to grow and learn better. However, when a student is exposed to a stressful event repeatedly and does not have the tools required to manage their emotions, it can get both emotionally and physically toxic for them.

In this blog, we will provide a few strategies that teachers and parents can use to help students deal with stress.

How teachers can help limit stress for students:

Students spend a lot of time interacting with tutors in a traditional classroom or online. This gives teachers the power to play an important role in limiting stress. In a classroom setup, teachers can build an environment that allows students to feel at ease and reduce tension.

The same is not possible when it comes to online education. But, tutors can encourage students to build a rapport with them and help them feel comfortable. One online education misstep students tend to make is to keep themselves from interacting with their peers and tutors, thus isolating themselves further.

Additional ideas that teachers can use to limit stress are:

1. Reduce homework: If teachers work as a team to reduce piling homework for students, it will give them more time to learn and enjoy their subjects better. This will also reduce stress and anxiety.
2. Encourage exercise: In a traditional classroom, teachers can encourage students to move around the room by building ‘work stations’ for them. And when it comes to online learning, educators can simply discuss the importance of exercise and how it can help children clear their mind and de-stress their body.
3. Make music a part of discussions: Studies have shown that music helps people relax and focus. Hence, teachers should encourage their students to discuss various genres of music more often. This will help them know other students better, make more friends and also learn about different types of music from each other.
4. Listen: It’s important to connect with students and listen to their concerns. If a candidate wants to discuss something that is bothering them, the best you can do is listen.

Tips for parents:

Parents can play a huge part in ensuring that their children are not weighed down with stress. Here are a few things they can do:

1. Don’t overschedule: Researchers say that teens need more time to decompress and develop naturally. This is why it is important for parents to not push them too hard towards something they are not naturally inclined.
2. Serve a healthy diet: Humans develop a taste for healthy food if they are introduced to them early on. Include healthy greens and fruits in your family meals. Avoid processed food or items containing excessive sugar as they affect create sleep and cause depression.
3. Ensure the right amount of sleep: Students should get a minimum of eight hours of sleep. This helps their mind focus better and soak information. Parents can make sure that their children get the right amount of sleep by encouraging them to shut off their screens at least for a few hours before bedtime and by limiting their access to screen within their bedrooms.
4. Incorporate exercise into the day: Children should exercise at least for one hour every day. This will strengthen cardio fitness and keep negative thoughts at bay. If children do not enjoy simple exercise, parents should try to come up with ideas for simple sports activities that the entire family can participate in.