Stress
An important aspect of child development is to learn how to cope effectively with stress. Younger children are less able to understand stressful or traumatic events. They may think that they have caused the stressful event to happen. They may become unhappy, listless, not want to play as usual, forget to do homework, get poor test scores in school, or even become aggressive and act out, getting into trouble at home or in school.
Older children and adolescents are better able to understand the causes of stress and to use cognitive coping skills to deal with the stressors in their lives. They too, however, may become anxious, depressed, hopeless, make statements of wanting to hurt themselves or die, become aggressive, and get into trouble in the home or at school. Sometimes adolescents who have stress may engage in risky behaviors such as driving recklessly, engaging in unsafe sexual activity, or beginning to use drugs or alcohol.
How to Help Children Cope with Stress
- Provide reassurance that the child is safe and protected
- Allow the child room to talk or draw about their thoughts and feelings
- Reassure children that it is okay to feel stress, anxiety, or depression
- Reassure children that traumatic events are not their fault
- Protect children from stressful situations as much as possible and avoid discussing stressful or traumatic events in front of them
- Correct any misconceptions about the stressful or traumatic event
- Explain the situation in words the child understands
- Teach children coping techniques to use when feeling stressed such as engaging in relaxing activities (These may include listening to music, dancing, coloring, and engaging in physical activities such as running and bike riding)
- For families that practice religious or spiritual beliefs, encourage children to turn to these practices in times of stress
- Provide support and be respectful of these practices. Encourage children to talk to religious leaders
- For older children and adolescents, talk to them about the cause of their stressors and help them plan ways to overcome the stressors
- Children in these age groups are able to have a better understanding of stress and can think about how the future may be different without the stress
- They are also able to think about what they could do to make changes to better deal with their stress
- This helps to give them hope that things can change
Working Effectively to Strengthen Families
As Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides work with children and their families, they should always keep in mind that all families are different. Families have different religious and spiritual beliefs, customs, cultures, traditions, and values. Always be respectful of the uniqueness of each family and look for the family’s strengths. Even in families where substance abuse or domestic violence has been an issue, there are strengths. It is important to help the family recognize these strengths and build upon them.
Learn what family member sets the rules and is considered to be the head of the household. Be respectful of parenting rules and styles, yet be aware of any possible issues of abuse or neglect. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should model positive parenting techniques with the children they work with to show parents and caregivers other methods of working with children. Keep in mind that many situations which require home care are stressful for the family and children involved. Practice good communication skills and act as a role model for how to positively communicate and handle stress.
Remember that families will all have different resources, financial situations, education levels, and lifestyles. It is not up to a HHA/PCA to change a family’s lifestyle. It is up to the HHA/PCA to find the strengths and positives in each family and to treat each family and family member with respect. At the beginning of each home care visit, Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should meet with the parent or primary care provider to discuss what concerns they have and what needs they have for the day. If they demonstrate that they care about the family’s needs being met, the family will be more willing to work with them and the experience will be more positive for everyone involved.
Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should always remember to report any incidents where they suspect a child is being maltreated or abused or if domestic violence is occurring in the home. They should report any observations they make about changes in parent or children behaviors and suspicions of alcohol or substance abuse to their supervisor, and they should inform their supervisor if they think the family could benefit from extra assistance such as parenting classes, a social worker, or community resources such as referrals to food banks, social service agencies, and healthcare facilities.