All work and no play makes Jack a dull kid!

A saying so old, yet so true..

The onset of modern times has simultaneously been a boon and bane to the next generation of kids. With so many expectations, there is a lot of burden and pressure on these small shoulders.

With a lot of expectations comes a lot of Stress..

But are these kids able to handle this much Stress?

How does this Stress affect them in the longer term?

While searching for these answers, we learned that Stress negatively impacts most kids. Whereas learning with fun provides unique cognitive resources, associates reward and pleasure with information, strengthens memory power, broadens abstract thinking, and increases attention span.

Whereas, while having fun, and learning, our brain releases Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates memory centers and increases focus. On the contrary, stressful situations can damage virtually every kind of cognition. It damages memory and executive function, causes changes in the body-brain system, and can actually inhibit learning.

Scientifically speaking, for effortless learning, there are three important neuroscientific concepts that teachers can keep in mind when preparing lessons or RAD:

• Originality is known to facilitate the transfer of information through the Reticular Activation System
• Students in stress-free classrooms tend to process data through the Affective Filter in the amygdala
• Enjoyable lessons and content that are associated with joy and excitement encourage the release of Dopamine in students.

Let us look at some of the reasons why Stress-Free learning techniques are effective on kids:

The magic of motivation:

Motivation is one of the biggest methods that bring back all the energy to achieve goals. Therefore, keep approaching your child towards the goals to achieve. Limit or shorten their goals because it is easy to achieve.

Space Wonders:

From morning to evening, the children regularly focus on their studies, completing homework, and learning different skills like computers, dancing, drawing, singing, and many more. This would probably make their life miserable, boring, and stressful and create anxiety.

Hence giving them a little space can do wonders!

Extracurricular Activities

A break is as important as the study itself to avoid burning him or herself out. Involving in extracurricular activity and regular exercising can help your child cope with Stress by allowing them to take a break and work off any frustration.

Sho Sho Those Negative Thoughts

All humans have negative thoughts at some point in their life. The solution lies in how it is dealt with. If left unchecked, these negative thoughts can impact a child’s stress levels, creating a cycle of Stress and negativity that is hard to break. 

Hence, it’s important to help your child think about how to make the situation less stressful—for example, breaking a task into smaller chunks or creating a schedule.

Sometimes, let them play their games, hobbies, and many more. This would probably make them happy and relax from their daily routine.

Positive Feedback Matters

Everyone likes positive feedback and responds well to a job. The children and elders alike feel pleased to hear a positive comment from the teachers. Praising them for their good deeds and behaviour can help increase their overall confidence and shape their personalities in the right direction.

Personal Connections

Making personal connections with the students sure goes a long way. The closer you get to your students, the better understanding you have of their abilities. This connection makes it easier for the kids to share their issues and problems and helps make an overall safe environment. 

It’s best to raise kids by applying stress management in other areas of their lives, as it is a lifelong skill with benefits ranging from health to family relationships. 

Having said that, it has also been noticed that sometimes, a bit of Stress can actually be good. It encourages students to work harder and perform better under high-pressure situations, such as during tests and exams.

But too much Stress can damage a student’s ability to perform.

Too much of anything is never good!

High-stress levels can impact a student’s ability to concentrate, memorize and achieve good grades. In contrast, too much Stress can lead to mental and physical health problems for students and create a cycle of poor grades, low confidence…& even more Stress.

Stress causes can differ for each kid, but they can all lead to the same negative impacts. Hence learning how to manage and reduce Stress is an important skill for all students to master.

No one can avoid Stress completely, but once they know how to handle school stress, your child can learn more effectively.

Let us look at some of the tips for Reducing Stress:

1. Organizing the schedule and day-to-day activities.
2. Establishing specific goals
3. Making kids exercise regularly
4. Handling the disruptions amongst kids calmly and privately.
5. Maintaining a positive & safe learning environment.
6. Posting a daily schedule to reduce uncertainty.
7. Giving students’ brain breaks’ to process learning.
8. Teaching stress management skills in the classroom.

Tip of the Day

Getting enough sleep is also an effective method to reduce Stress. Managing a sleep routine is highly relevant to mental health and handling stress. 

Sometimes it is tough for students to maintain good sleep hygiene because of academic pressure, which can result in the feeling of Stress amongst the kids and impact their overall well-being. 

Hence, a timely sleep pattern is a must!

If you are looking for a stress-free education platform for your kid, then Origami School might be the one for you and your kid. Their teaching focuses more on spatial learning & growth and offers opportunities to learn something new at every turn. 

With an effective Cambridge affiliation that follows the IGCSE curriculum for practical learning, Origami encourages free thinking and believes in nurturing young minds into the greatness they are destined for.

Their concept school is based on Democratic Learning, Family-oriented Conceptual Teaching, and Finnish Learning Concepts to bring a global perspective and a holistic worldview from primary levels. 

No one can control what happens to the kids when they leave school, but we can give them the tools to respond healthily in any given situation!