January 2020 – Elementary School E-Bits
For Educators
Teachers Have Stress Too
Teaching and guiding students on how to identify and manage stress is not only done through the curriculum but is something, as teachers, you do every day. To be an effective role model for students it is essential for teachers to reduce and manage their own stress.
Tips for reducing your own stress:
- Take a break: take time for yourself and incorporate positive stress management techniques
- Shift your perspective: keep a positive attitude and realize that you cannot control everything in the classroom
- Get enough sleep
- Prioritize to avoid feeling overwhelmed
- Eat well: you need fuel for energy to deal with life’s challenges
- Exercise regularly: endorphin production following physical activity makes this a great stress management strategy. Being outside in nature is an even better choice!
- Write down three thing you are thankful for each week, even if you find it hard
- Create a strong support system
For Families
Now that the Christmas holidays are over, do you find yourself struggling to get back into a regular routine again? If so, you are not alone! It’s normal for a change in routine to throw everyone off. It can take time to readjust. Our kids may be testing the boundaries a little bit more (which is normal). Be consistent with routines and expectations. It will help kids to adjust more quickly. Sleep, healthy food, physical activity, time for play and one-on-one time with a parent will help your child manage stress better. These things work for parents too!
For more parenting tips, visit www.triplep-parenting.ca, call 1-800-660-5853, or email [email protected]. Parenting Matters!
STRESS You and Your Teen
In today’s world many families are experiencing high amounts of stress – and that includes our kids and teens.
How can you, as a parent, help your child/teen navigate stress?
- Tune into your own stress: how you deal with your own stress is linked to how you help teens, how they experience stress, and how they learn to cope with their stress
- Maintain your parent-child relationship: any positive influence you want to have on your teen depends on a good relationship
- Recognize the signs of stress: symptoms of stress include angry outbursts, moodiness, irritability, sadness, anxiety or panic, headaches, upset stomach and difficulty sleeping
- Talk about stress, help with problem solving and provide practical support
- Provide a healthy home base: a healthy diet, enough sleep, physical activity and the time and space to relax are the basic tools for coping with stress
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