Kids and Stress

I am under stress. Work. Family. Bills. No time for all the things that I need to do. Every adult reading this can relate. But what about your kids? In spite of the nice weather, this is one of the most stressful times of the year for your kids. My step daughter, Lexi, has informed me of this as she read off her first ever exam schedule. Everything is rushed right now. Everyone is having an end of school party. Oh yea, and there is that little thing they call final exams! With all this in mind, here is a checklist to help your kids get through the next few weeks with as little stress as possible and start the summer safe and happy!

Sleep well, little ones! Kids need 8 to 12 hours of sleep a night, depending on their age. Do your best to make sure that they are getting as much as possible. Take cell phones, disable TVs, put filters on laptops so that their bedroom is only for studying and sleeping. Even for older teens, their mind generally stops taking in information as the night wears on, so they might as well ‘pack it in' and get some rest.
Eat well, little ones! Protein for alertness, carbs for energy, water for hydration. At this time of year, anything that does not have lots of nutrients should be discouraged! Try to get them to eat as much food that is not processed as possible. Nuts, fresh fruit, peanut butter, low fat cottage cheese are all great snacks. Eating the right breakfast is critical for good test taking. Need ideas? Go to our very own Nemours Foundation website for recipes. http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/breakfast.html
Keep moving, kiddoes! Nothing eases stress like exercise, and the weather lately has made it so easy to get out there and move! 30 minutes outside doing virtually anything to move will clear the mind and loosen the body. It improves concentration, elevates moods (any teenagers need that?), and gets blood and oxygen flowing.
Moms and Dads, synch up your calendars! Do you know when the last day of school is? Is it the same for the middle schooler as the high schooler? What time do exams end? Are exams every day next week? Who's picking up whom after the game? When is the 9th grade party? When is aftercare for the pre-K? These are real life questions in my house, so your calendars BETTER be synched up. My wife and I literally invite each other to these events as we enter them. Trust me; you do NOT want to be the one who forgets that the last day of pre-school ends at noon!
Call your pediatrician TODAY to schedule physicals BEFORE July 1st. Ok, this one is really for your stress level, not your kids. I have a pile of forms to fill out by September, and the time to get the time you want for the doctor is this month, not August 31st!
Get the right gift for the teachers, and get them now! We have so many teachers as patients, and they tell us that they pretty much like the same thing--gift cards to a bookstore. They get to pick what they want, when they have time, and it fits in their wallet. For younger kids, a hand made card is very touching, especially if it includes a picture of the child with the teacher.

Oh, and by the way, good luck on those exams, Lexi--I have a bowl of Broccoli waiting for you!!