There is a lot of pressure put onto a student’s academic career. So, it’s easy to see that there could be a ton of pressure put on your students. The effects of long-term stress exposure include low motivation, a drop in academic achievements, and risk of school dropout. What are some of the warning signs? They aren’t always easy to spot, especially if your students tend to be on the reserved side. They might not always speak up about their struggles, but here are some obvious and not so obvious signs of stress in students:
Changes in Behavior
This may seem a little broad, but let’s take a look at what that means. You know your student; you see their daily routines and how they react in different circumstances. Spotting unusual behaviors every once in a while might be ok. Still, it may be stress-related if you start to notice a pattern or continuation of behaviors outside of the norm. Look for things like withdrawing from friends and family, irritability, no longer enjoying the things they use to love.
Physical Symptoms
Prolonged stress can put a toll on the body. If your student starts complaining of headaches or stomach aches frequently, this could be due to them feeling like they are under pressure. You may begin to notice a pattern of when these aches and pains come on, such as in specific environments or before potentially stressful situations. It is important to always rule out illness, so always consult with your pediatrician first.
Changes in Sleep
Parents and guardians of school-age children should keep an eye out for changes in sleep. This could be a lack of sleep or more sleep than usual. For educators, this could be a little more difficult to spot. Some signs of a change in sleep patterns for children are exhaustion and falling asleep during school hours. Unfortunately, lack of sleep can also contribute to the stress they already feel.
Understanding Stress Orientation and Stress Susceptibility
Stress Orientation describes the things that trigger stress, and Stress Susceptibility gauges how likely one is to feel that stress or their reaction to stressors. Our SELC (Social-Emotional Learning Competence) Report analyzes both Orientation and Susceptibility to identify which areas cause the most stress and how a student will handle stressful situations.
The importance of know this information is not to avoid these situations but to come up with helpful ways to cope with these situations. The SELC Report is an invaluable tool that helps parents and educators open up the dialogue with their students to pave the way to a bright and prosperous future. The SELC Report gives you the power to help your students develop skills that will help them throughout their lifetime.
