Stress is neither good nor bad - it is an adaptive response to an internal or external stressor. Some stressors have use - like exercise that grows strength and fitness and meaningful schoolwork that enhances learning. Other stressors seems useless. They only tax the system for no other gain. And these can add up. Here are six causes of non-productive stress - those useless stressors in kids’ lives.
Social-Emotional Programs Misaligned with Developmental Needs: Flawed social-emotional programming expect children and teens to act like adults. They want kids to be calm, organized, and rational, forgetting that young people are still growing and learning. Impossible expectations impose stress.
Forced, Insincere Social Engagement: Many programs specifically designed to address social dynamics push toxic positivity and feed insincere social interactions. Inauthentic social engagement does not fuel healthy human connection. It disconnects kids.
Poorly Designed Literacy Instruction: The cat is out of the bag. As explained in Sold a Story by Emily Hanford, literacy has not been taught well in many schools across the country. Poor literacy instruction taxes the students, the families, and ultimately, society.
Inadequate Sleep, Exercise, and Healthy Food: There are many people who have been led to believe that certain kids are born as poor sleepers or eaters and that sleep deprivation or nutritional deficiencies are acceptable. But all kids have human bodies that need some basic things. Many kids are not getting enough rest, sunlight, physical activity, or healthy food.
Adults' Ineffective Communications: There is a bias in our society in favor of throwing up our hands and saying that adults “do the best they can with what they have.” But if our society invested in adult education and prepared all adults to communicate with kids in an evidence based way, we could all do much better. Because of our society’s lack of investment in such adult education, adults struggle to connect with them, and kids manage isolation-related stress.
Inadequate Adult Leadership: Without strong adult leaders who hold high expectations, children often struggle. Lack of effective guidance can lead to harmful behaviors, such as problem avoidance and explosive reactions, which can stunt kids' emotional growth and cause long term stress for both themselves and others.