By Trisha Sheehan Do you remember what stressed you out as a kid? I clearly remember worrying a great deal about my school grades and big track or cross country meets. Of course I wanted to do my best, but in my mind, I also had to be the best. That didn't always happen -- which caused me more stress. Like adults, young people have stress. It can come in many shapes and sizes. Maybe it’s due to a test grade, or a friendship, or the perceived expectations of parents. There may be family stress related to finances or farming situations. What can we as youth workers, volunteers and parents do to help young people better manage stress? It’s important to pay attention to the warning signs of stress : Feeling sad or withdrawn. More irritable or moody than usual. Drastic changes in behavior or sleep patterns. Routinely expressing worries. Clinging more to parents. Sleeping too much or too little. Eating too much or too little. Complaining about school or activities t...
Our youth development educators bridge research and practice. In this blog, they offer their views on what's happening in the field of youth development, with an eye to evidence-based research written by themselves and others in our field. We welcome your comments.