Stress in parent’s lives can be detrimental to the kids

Author of Kids Pick Up on Everything: How Parental Stress is Toxic to Kids, David Code also an Episcopal minister says stress is highly contagious and parental stress can weaken the development of a child’s brain or immune system, increasing the risk of allergies, obesity or mental disorders.He added that the greatest gift a parent can give today to his child is a healthy relationship with other adults.Research shows children can catch their parents’ stress just like they catch a virus. They are like little sponges, soaking up the stress in today’s anxious households until their developing nervous systems hit overload, at which point they act out, or develop symptoms of mental or physical illness.”The mind-body connection strongly factors into almost every child’s behaviour –the parent’s mind affects their child’s body “through a kind of emotional pipeline,” Code says. The more stress a kid picks up from the parent, the more ill health – even if the parent is unaware of his or her own anxiety.

By making our kids the centre of our universe, parents are more stressed out than ever and more isolated from family and friends than ever. Today’s parenting strategies are a dead-end. Increased social contact not only improves parents’ quality of life, it improves their children’s wellbeing too. “We need to wake up and acknowledge that we’re not enjoying our own stressful lives, and it’s sure not helping our kids either – time to make a change,” says Code. Parents worry about chemicals in food, but when it comes to children’s health the real toxin is their stress, because kids pick up everything!

According to author David Code – Steps to raise healthier kids

-      After 5 pm turn off all screens, big and small and socialize.

-      Socialize more with other parents while kids play together.

-      Once a week dine with friends.

-      Exercise with your spouse – Build muscle and marriage too. It is easier to discuss tough topics and get emotional when one is side by side on the treadmill or jogging down the street.

-      Even a short evening stroll together is great marital maintenance.

-      A vacation every three months is helpful for a complete change of pace and a healthier family.

-      Establish the one-minute instant intimacy builder with the spouse. When both get back home from work, while changing or preparing dinner, share  ‘highlight’ and ‘lowlight’ of the day. Try to focus on one moment in time.

 Reference: http://www.lfpress.com/life/holidays/features/2011/12/20/19149601.html