Kidstress: What It Is, How It Feels, How to Help
Relax--it's not your fault! Dr. Georgia Witkin will help you realize that notallyour child's stresses come from home. More to the point, parents can help their kids deal with stress effectively.  The initial step is to identify the symptoms. Here the author includes descriptions of symptoms in children's own words; you'll be amazed at just how accurately little ones can describe those feelings we all get during difficult times, from "I get a tight knot in my stomach" to "I start to drum my fingers."  Several chapters focus on the sources of stress: family, friendships, school, and a few biggies like death and war. Techniques to deal with stress are presented in simple bullet-point lists, addressing behavioral changes for a variety of troublesome situations. Some techniques, it should be noted, are more helpful than others ("never criticize when angry, only when calm" sounds easy, but try it on the way to the airport with two cranky adolescents at holiday time and you'll see why some suggestions are easier made than put into practice). Most useful are the insights into a child's outward signs of stress, and how to balance parental sympathy with a refusal to be manipulated. Often, open conversation and thorough preparation provide the solutions, just as they do for us stressed-out adults.  A practical guide to dealing with life's everyday worries,KidStresscan help parents and kids survive stress-filled days peacefully.--Jill Lightner