Mental and emotional stress can have a negative impact on your child’s brain health. This can lead to physical problems in the future.

The negative physical effects of stress can include a weakened immune system, poorer gastrointestinal function, fatigue, muscle tension and pain.

Stress can also take a toll on your child’s mental health, causing anxiety, depression and problems with memory and concentration.

It is important to help your child manage their stress in a healthy way. Chronic stress results in a persistent fight or flight response that shuts down the thinking parts of the brain.

There are many ways that you can help your child manage their stress.

• One way is to encourage them to express their feelings. This can be done through talking, writing, or drawing. It is also important to let them know that it is okay to feel stressed. Help them to understand that everyone feels stress at times.
• Another way to help your child manage their stress is to encourage them to be active. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress. It can also help to improve mood and sleep.
• A third, lesser used method is music listening therapy. I have used it with my dyslexic daughter and hundreds of other struggling learners. Some benefits of this method include:
  • Improved memory, focus, and concentration
  • Improved mood with increased motivation for daily activities and socialization
  • Improved sleep, the time when the brain files away the memories of things learned during the day

Studies have shown that children who participate in music listening programs make significant developmental improvements in language, social skills, emotional stability, and academic achievement.

It is important to model healthy coping mechanisms for your child. Show them how you deal with stress in a healthy way. This will help them learn how to deal with stress in their own lives. As they learn how to manage their stress, you will also see benefits in their brain function and learning abilities.