![Page 1: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Stress & Resiliency in Young Children
Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children
Joanna Grymes
Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State University
April 8, 2005
![Page 2: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Definitions
• STRESS
• Perception that one’s resources are insufficient to meet the demands made upon one
• RESILIENCY
• Capability of individuals to cope successfully in the face of significant adversity or risk
![Page 3: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Stress: Adults
• Holmes & Raye scale• Different types of stressors:
– Normative– Non-normative– Acute– Chronic– Daily hassles
• Role of perception, coping styles…
![Page 4: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Stress: Children
• Role of development
• Recognize differences in what is stressful for you and young children
![Page 5: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Stressors for Children
• Bullying
• Unclear expectations
• Social issues/isolation
• Fear of failure
• Disorganized living environment/lack of structure
• Fear of unknown/expectation of unpleasantness
![Page 6: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Stressors for Children
• New/unfamiliar situations
• Family issues (divorce, death, etc.)
• School/child care setting
• Developmental fears (dark, monsters, etc.)
• Transitional events
• “Hurrying”
![Page 7: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Cumulative Effects of Stress
• Individual characteristics (premature, boys, difficult temperament, limited cognitive ability)
• Family (parental separation, divorce, money issues, disorganization)
• Environment (poverty, violence, lack of physical safety)
![Page 8: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Stress Signals in Young Children
• Physical/somatic complaints
• Regression
• Eating/sleeping/toileting difficulties
• Anxious, irritable, angry
• Aggressive and/or withdrawn
• Nervous behaviors
• Self comforting behaviors
![Page 9: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Assisting Young Children with Stress
• Advance warning when possible (don’t over-prepare)
• Provide supportive environment
• Provide open ended play materials
![Page 10: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Assisting Young Children with Stress
• Help children recognize, name and express their emotions
• Practice “positive talk” such as “I can do this”
• Provide open ended opportunities to talk
![Page 11: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Assisting Young Children with Stress
• Help children develop relaxation skills (deep breaths, movement, play materials)
• Help children develop coping skills (ask for help, walk away, take time to breathe)
• Provide consistent routines and an organized living environment
• Positive discipline approaches
![Page 12: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Assisting Young Children with Stress
• Help children develop their own approaches:– Engage in a favorite activity such as
reading, music or dance– Exercise or other physical activity– Set realistic expectations; no one is
perfect– Talk to someone – parent, relative,
another adult, friend…
![Page 13: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Bibliotherapy
![Page 14: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
A Few Online Bibliotherapy Resources
www.wheelock.edu/library/liresearch/liclass_cfs360.asp
www.waterborolibrary.org/bklistjb.htm
www.hpl.hamilton.on.ca/kids/parents/booklist.shtml
![Page 15: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
The great danger I see in the idea of resilience is in expecting children to overcome deprivation and anger on their own …. There is no magic here; resilient children have been protected by actions of adults, by good nurturing, by their assets, and by opportunities to succeed. We cannot stand by as the infrastructure for child development collapses in this nation, expecting miracles. (Masten, 1996, p. 24)
![Page 16: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Resiliency
• Resilient does not mean unaffected or invulnerable
• Combination of factors – both protective/resiliency and vulnerability/risk; internal and external
![Page 17: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Straying Pattern
Attachment behavior learned with family of origin
May be a healthy coping mechanism in new family situations (adoption, foster care)
![Page 18: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Protective Factors
• Personal– Self-esteem– Trust/optimism/sense of hope– Autonomy/self-reliance/independence– Hardiness/ability to handle stress– Sociability– Ability to experience a range of emotions– Normal development
![Page 19: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Protective Factors
– Childhood competence
– Engaging
– Easy temperament
– Good mental health
– Internal locus of control
– 4th grade reading skills
![Page 20: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Protective Factors
• Family
– Nurturing
– Emotionally close/supportive
– Stable adult relationships
– Family security and safety
– Parental supervision
– High, appropriate expectations for children
![Page 21: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Community
• Economic conditions
• Safe/stable
• Available services
• Positive school climate
• Positive relationships with peers
![Page 22: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
PERSONAL/SELF
COMMUNITYSETTINGS/
CHILD CARE,SCHOOL
OTHER INTERESTEDADULTS
COMMUNITYRESOURCES
FAMILY
CULTURE
CHILD’SRESILIENCE
![Page 23: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Encouraging Resiliency in Children
• Avoid “D” words: dysfunctional, damaged, deprived, disturbed
• Be empathic – see world through child’s eyes
• Communicate with respect
• Give undivided attention
• Given children opportunity to contribute/be responsible
![Page 24: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Encouraging Resiliency in Children
• Treat mistakes as learning experiences
• Stress child’s strengths
• Accept child for as is – not what you want
• Model positive attitude toward change and positive coping strategies
![Page 25: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Attitudes & Skills to Foster…
• Positive attitude toward change
• Sense of optimism/hope
• Social skills – ability to connect with others
• Making plans and working toward them
![Page 26: Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Understanding Stress & Resiliency in Young Children Joanna Grymes Department of Teacher Education, Arkansas State](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022081519/56649f275503460f94c3ebca/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
References• Brooks, R. & Goldstein, S. (2002). Nurturing resilience in our children. New York: McGraw Hill.
Also, see http://www.raisingresilientkids.com/
• Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA. (2002). A technical assistance sampler on protective factors (resiliency) . Los Angeles, CA: Author.
• Jewett, J. & Peterson, K. Stress and Young Children. ERIC Digest. http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-4/stress.html
• Masten, A. S. (1996, March 29). Presentation to the Consortium of Social Science Associations. Fostering resiliency in kids: Overcoming adversity. A Congressional Breakfast Seminar. Transcript of proceeding (pp. 19–24). Washington, DC: Consortium of Social Science Associations
• McPherson, K. (2004). Stress in Children. National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002059.htm
• Streigth, D. & Copeland, E. P. (1998). Stress in Children. Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.
• Werner, E. and Smith, R. (1982, 1989). Vulnerable but Invincible: A Longitudinal Study of Resilient Children and Youth. New York: Adams, Bannister, and Cox.