Stress Management Program
Developed by Phillip Slee, Annette Flanagan and Ben Mitchell

 

 

 

A sound stress management program:

  • recognises the unique personality make-up and experience of each child
  • helps children recognise signs of stress
  • helps children identify personal resources for coping

Thinking about Resources to Use in Dealing with Stress

This activity may be useful for older children, adolescents, parents and other caregivers, or for caregivers considering the stressors facing a younger child.

Think of something that has happened recently or is happening in your life now that you are finding stressful and you would like to deal with better.

1. Draw a diagram like the one here; starting in the middle DEMAND box where you outline the demand which you are thinking about. Then list your resources for dealing with the DEMAND.

2. Reflecting on the diagram above, list next to the circles marked "r" the resources you have, that could make a difference to the demand. For example:

I may not have had a good night's sleep for weeks because my child is waking at night.
One effect could be that I feel short tempered and angry.
One resource may be that I could stay at my friend's house for one night and my friend will get the baby for me.

Some "r's" may be more useful for more than one box. Look over the diagram you have drawn:

  • What do you notice?
  • What can you do to increase resources and/or decrease demands?
Consider this question in terms of things you can do both short and long term - for instance:
  • Immediately (e.g. go to sleep early tonight),
  • Next week (e.g. enrol in a yoga class) and
  • As an ongoing thing (e.g. talk to someone about how I deal with my feeling of anger ... )

Find Out More

If you liked this stress management program, you may be interested in our video-discussion package "Stressed Out & Growing Up". It considers the definition of stress, types of stress facing growing children, individual difference in responding to stress and a stress management program for coping with stress.

Other Stress Information and Resources