Little Kids, Big Worries : Stress-Busting Tips for Early Childhood Classrooms

Research shows that stress in the crucial early years of a child¿s life can pose dramatic, lasting challenges to development, learning, and behavior. Early childhood professionals need to recognize stress in young children¿and intervene with proven relief strategies before pressures turn into big problems. This book was developed to help readers address the most common causes of stress in a young child¿s life, including separation anxiety, bullying, jealousy, and family circumstances. Educators and childcare providers will understand key factors that influence a child¿s stress level, including attachment, temperament, developmental and learning challenges, health issues, and family pressures. Become a keen observer of the varied and sometimes subtle ways that children express stress. Personalize stress-busters to meet the needs of individual children. Skillfully use stress-reducing strategies with groups of children from diverse backgrounds. Harness the power of storytelling to model solutions to problems and help children address negative feelings. Avoid burnout by handling the stresses in their own adult lives, from challenging interactions with parents to issues with co-workers. Memorable stories inspired by Dr. Honig¿s 30+ years of experience show readers how these stress-busters can make a real difference in children¿s lives, and the questions at the end of each chapter are ideal aids for self-study or professional development courses. Packed with down-to-earth, easy-to-use ideas, this empowering book gives professionals the tools they need to conquer stress in any early childhood setting¿so children can develop the early social and academic skills they¿ll need to succeed in school.

Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D., a psychologist and internationally respected early childhood expert is Professor Emerita of Child Development at Syracuse University.