My heart broke with the recent traumatic news from Parkland, Florida. The statistics alone are shocking. Over 170 schools in the United States have experienced similar situations since the Columbine High School shootings with 18 schools just this year. Now our children – the students – are seeking to elevate the discussion to seek some resolutions. They have planned several national walk out events in the months ahead. Wednesday, March 14 will be the first event and another planned for Friday, April 20, marking the 19th year since the student killings at Columbine High School.
National Walk Out Rallies Planned
The debate over how to reduce school violence is multi-faceted and needs our attention. One significant aspect is the issue of guns, how to acquire guns, background checks and types of guns available. School safety is yet another component and how to modify schools to protect our children. Other aspects include how our society can provide additional support to those who are experiencing mental health issues. And yet another component is the amount of stress being experienced by our children. The time has come for this dialog and debate to happen. It is long overdue.
The American Psychological Association (APA) found that every subsequent generation from the baby boomers to the latest generation are becoming more and more stressed. They are finding that children are experiencing added stress — more so than any other generation of children. These findings have implications to our kids and to our society at large.
Stress and Our Kids
So what should we consider when engaging with our children now? The APA recommends the following tips for noticing when your children may be under stress. The recommendations include:
- Watch for negative changes in behavior.
- Understand that “feeling sick” may be caused by stress.
- Be aware of how your child or teen interacts with others.
- Listen and translate; and,
- Seek support.
The APA in their recommendations outlines additional aspects to each of these tips. And I encourage you to read the link above.
Alternative Healing Approaches to Reduce Stress:
Whether through meditation, mindfulness, Tai Chi, Yoga, Reiki, Qigong, Native American indigenous healing, music therapy, pet therapy, acupuncture or other healing approach, our society knows that the above techniques help us physically to tap into our relaxation state. That part that allows us to release the anxiety, the fear or the depression and to simply “let go.” Our kids are able to tap into this approach more easily than we can as adults. It is however a learning process. It is better to begin early with the kids. They learn the techniques now to support them in times of stressful life occurrences.
Alternative Healing Approaches Prove Helpful
Taking dedicated time to help your child to identify the “stress” or rather the emotion is a key step in the process. Once identified, ask your child where on his or her body they feel that emotion. This helps the child become aware that feelings, emotions, thoughts or beliefs often have a physical ramification to them. We know that when we are scared, shocked or fearful are body often tenses up, the same is true for other feelings and thought processes.Then encourage your child to pursue an approach that helps them reach their relaxation state. Many have been identified above. A simple approach is to do a child meditation before going to bed. It helps them fall asleep but also teaches them an important technique that can be built upon moving forward.
Four Directions Wellness Offers March Mindfulness for Kids!
Join Four Directions Wellness for its upcoming March Mindfulness for Kids
Let’s help support our kids early to lessen their stress today and tomorrow! If you are interested, join Four DIrections Wellness Facebook for its upcoming March Mindfulness for Kids. A new simple technique will be offered beginning on Sunday, March 4, for the week. Each technique helps parents or guardians to incorporate meditation and mindfulness for their children.
Afterwards, please let me know your thoughts. Would love to know if the techniques were helpful to you and your kids!