How To Reduce Elementary Students’ Stress in the Classroom

Written by Mr Mustafa in Teachers' Lounge Last Updated February 6, 2023

Teachers, and educational institutions as a whole, are not just responsible for educating students in academic subjects but also for promoting their holistic health and wellbeing. An essential aspect of this goal is ensuring that students’ mental health is supported. For instance, teachers may want to consider reducing elementary students’ stress in the classroom.

Here’s how to reduce elementary students’ stress in the classroom:

  1. Understand the causes of stress.
  2. Learn to recognize the symptoms of stress.
  3. Conduct surveys on stress.
  4. Give children a safe space to talk or express themselves.
  5. Discourage competitiveness.
  6. Set reasonable homework expectations.
  7. Practice mindfulness.
  8. Engage in stress management programs.
  9. Teach coping skills.
  10. Teach academic organizational skills.
  11. Build on social support.
  12. Work with parents/guardians.
  13. Improve natural elements in the children’s environment.
  14. Consider psychologist support.
  15. Be aware of your own stress levels.

This article will provide you with an in-depth guide to reducing elementary students’ stress. This guide will take on a holistic approach, considering everything teachers, parents, and students themselves can do to better manage stress levels.

1. Understand the Causes of Stress

It’s essential to understand the stressorsOpens in a new tab. that elementary students face. Some primary stressors include the pressure from schoolwork and grades and trying to maintain a balance between school and extracurricular activities. Peer pressure and conflict with classmates are other common sources of stress.

Here’s a more detailed look at the sources of stress for an elementary school student:

  • School work and grades. As they move up in grades, students have to deal with more and more demands and increased pressure to perform well academically.
  • Conflicts with peers. Childhood and early adolescence can be a time where strong bonds but also strong rivalries are formed with peers. Children can be bullied or get into unhealthy competition with classmates that builds on stress.
  • School – extracurricular activities balance. During school, most children also develop extracurricular interests like sports or theater. They may find it challenging to balance the demands of schoolwork along with their extracurricular activities.
  • Body and hormonal changes. As children progress into adolescence, their hormone levels and bodies change. This can cause extreme stress as children feel a lack of control and dissatisfaction with how their bodies look and feel.
  • Socioeconomic factors. Students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds – some home factors may pressure children. Poverty, for instance, places a large amount of stress on children as it may lead to an unstable environment.

2. Learn To Recognize the Symptoms of Stress

Many children don’t have the knowledge or awareness to recognize and express when they’re stressed. So, teachers need to be able to look for non-overt symptoms of stress such as unmanageable emotions, changes in classroom performance, and physical symptoms.

Here are some signs of stressOpens in a new tab. an elementary schooler may display:

  • Physical symptoms. If a child is complaining about physical pain like headaches and stomach aches and has no underlying medical conditions, they may be stressed. Other physical symptoms include a decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping.
  • Emotional outbursts. In some cases, you may notice a  change in a child’s behavior. They may get angry or cry suddenly. These outbursts are a clear sign that their emotional balance has shifted.
  • Conflicts with peers. When they feel stressed or like they’re lacking control, children may start bullying peers or getting into physical fights.
  • Changes in classroom performance. If you notice a student is suddenly underperforming in a subject they used to excel at, they may find the workload too heavy or are stressed for other reasons.
  • Clinginess. A child that is stressed may look for more adult comfort than usual. They may not want to go outside at recess or have trouble detaching from their parents.

3. Conduct Surveys on Stress

Identifying the first signs of stress before they develop into full-fledged symptoms is always the way to go. Therefore, it would help if you regularly tried to assess your students’ stress levels to ensure you can address them immediately. You can do this by consciously surveying your students.

Here are some ways to conduct stress surveys:

  • Have a small quiz after each homework assignment. Rather than checking the student’s subject comprehension, it will ask how complicated the assignment was and how long it took your students to do it. This will allow you to see how difficult the homework you’re giving is and how much stress it may have caused.
  • Ask parents to conduct surveys. While younger children may not be able to do extensive surveys, you can pass on stress surveys to their parents. You may consider several psychologically recognized surveys, like the State and Trait Anxiety in Children questionnaire.
  • Have a “feelings jar.” After or before every class, ask each student to write a brief note about how they are feeling or how their day is going. To encourage honesty, these notes can be anonymous. They will allow you to assess the overall mental health of your class.

4. Give Children a Safe Space To Talk or Express Themselves

Using a “feelings jar” is an excellent way for students to express themselves and identify how they’re feeling. You should ensure that students feel comfortable talking to you directly about their feelings and discussing stressors.

When engaging in a conversation with a student, make sure you are asking non-judgemental, non-leading questions. Try to avoid questions that start with ‘why’ as these may make children feel like they have to defend themselves.

In addition, you should stay away from offering solutions when children are talking about their sources of stress. Instead, hear them out and only offer advice after an interval or if they ask for it.

If children you engage with are not comfortable or not capable of talking, you can also encourage them to draw or to point out their emotions and feelings on a visual chart.

5. Discourage Competitiveness

To create a safe, inclusive space for children, you must build an environment for collaboration rather than competitiveness. This reduces the amount of pressure students feel and allows them to build better connections with their peers.

To discourage competitiveness, you should refrain from having competitive games like quizzes within the classroom environment. You should also be conscious not to compare one student’s performance to others.

6. Set Reasonable Homework Expectations

Make sure you give students enough time and information to complete the homework. You should also ensure the homework is level and age-appropriate. You may even want to design unique homework assignments for students of different capacities within a classroom.

Additionally, if you realize a student is consistently handing in homework late or incomplete, don’t immediately punish them. Instead, investigate the causes of the issue and try to understand whether your expectations and deadlines are reasonable.

7. Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is an excellent way to alleviate stress. Mindfulness encourages individuals to focus on the present moment without an attachment to the outcome. It helps children understand their emotions and physical symptoms and navigate them effectively.

Some age-appropriate mindfulness activitiesOpens in a new tab. include a body scan, breathing exercises, and awareness activities using the senses. For instance, you may encourage your students to do a mindful walk through the school campus to focus only on what they can hear.

There are some excellent guided mindfulness resources online, including this video from New Horizon.

8. Engage in Stress Management Programs

More and more educational settings are introducing tailored stress management programs for students. A group of researchers found that diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation are two effective stress reduction methods.

Diagraphamic breathingOpens in a new tab., also called belly breathing, involves breathing deeply into the stomach, holding it at a few counts, and then releasing it. Meanwhile, progressive muscle relaxation focuses on tensing different muscles in the body and then releasing them.

These programs can be more engaging for elementary students through music and props such as feathers and breathing balls.

Try to conduct these programs before or at the end of every class.

There are also school-level programs you may consider. The Learn Young, Learn Fair programOpens in a new tab. in the USA is especially popular for elementary school students. It’s targeted at treating anxiety and depression, two common consequences of stress.

9. Teach Coping Skills

As well as engaging in guided stress management programs, it would help if you equipped your students with strategies they can consciously turn to when stressed. Here are some strategies that you can teach children:

  • Conscious breathing. Remind children that conscious breathing is a strategy they can rely on anytime they feel stressed.
  • Get active. Encourage children to continuously be active by playing sports they enjoy or simply taking a walk. Teach them that engaging in physical activity when stressed can help them feel better.
  • Listen to music. Most children enjoy listening to music – remind them that this is something they can rely on when they feel stressed.
  • Journaling. It’s essential to recognize the sources of stress and connect with your emotions. Journaling is an excellent way to do this. Ask your students to maintain a regular journal. If students do not like to write, you can introduce them to journaling methods like blogging, photography, drawing, and even voice memos.

10. Teach Academic Organizational Skills

If you find that most of your students are stressed because of academic pressures, teach them skills that help them manage their schoolwork. Here are some skills/toolsOpens in a new tab. that you can explore with them:

  • Study planner. Show your students study planners that help them keep track of homework and organize their workload. Asking to see the study planner every class can ensure that students are consistently using it.
  • Note taking. Show students how to take regular, concise notes. This can improve their understanding of the subjects being explored and also allow them a place to refer to if they get confused.
  • Tutoring. You can open additional tutoring classes for students struggling with concepts or falling behind on homework. This additional help can reduce stress and give children the extra time they need for schoolwork.

11. Build on Social Support

Research has foundOpens in a new tab. that social support is one of the most effective ways of alleviating stress. As well as offering social support as a teacher, it would help if you actively tried to facilitate friendships and support between peers.

Here are some ways to build stronger peer and peer relationships in the classroom:

  • Teach social skills. Good social skills can help individuals build strong friendships throughout their lives. With younger children, you could focus on social skills like sharing. For older students, you can build on their understanding of empathy.
  • Collaborative projects. Assign projects that call upon students to work with each other. Try to make these projects creative and ensure that all students are appointed an equal amount of work. This allows children to strengthen their friendship as they work together towards a shared goal.
  • Create a collaborative physical environment. Set up tables and chairs with several students at a table. This allows students to discuss subjects and deepen their connection to each other.

12. Work With Parents/Guardians

Stress management shouldn’t begin or end in the classroom. For holistic stress management, teachers should work with parents and guardians to ensure their students get all the support they need to reduce and cope with stress.

If you notice that a student is continuously showing symptoms of stress, you should try to call in their parents for a meeting. Work together to create a stress management plan and ensure your strategies are similar both at home and at school.

Some topics you may want to consider discussing include coping strategies, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and role modeling healthy coping. These are explored further below:

Encouraging Similar Coping Strategies

Both teachers and parents must be aware of the coping strategies that a child is using. For instance, if the child is using breathing techniques and exercises at school, they should be encouraged to use the same techniques at home. This builds on consistency which is an excellent tool for managing stress.

Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to reduce and manage stress. Here are some healthy lifestyle componentsOpens in a new tab. you can explore with your student’s parents:

  • Sleep habits. Children between 6-12 need to get 9-12 hours of sleep a night. To improve sleep habits, parents may limit the use of electronics before bed. They may also show children that beds are only meant for sleeping – other activities like reading should be done off the bed.
  • Exercise. Elementary-age children should spend at least an hour each day doing physical activities. This can be achieved by doing sports at school or by engaging in extracurricular activities.
  • Healthy diets. Children should eat a balanced diet with low amounts of sugar and sodium.

Encouraging Role Modeling Healthy Coping

Children look to both their teachers and parents as role models. Role model healthy coping strategies like mindfulness practices or regular exercise. You can also talk to children about stressful situations you have been in and how you coped.

Showing children how you navigate your stress helps them feel like they’re not alone. It also builds on their confidence to come and talk to you whenever they feel stressed.

13. Improve Natural Elements in the Children’s Environment

Studies have found that access to natural environmentsOpens in a new tab. can improve children’s ability to cope with stress. Access to natural elements improves children’s resilience, helping them bounce back from stressful situations.

Taking students on a walk through a natural area like a park or grove of trees can be an excellent way to prevent stress build-up.

If you can’t immerse your students in a natural environment, you can bring elements of nature into your classroom. For instance, you can install plants throughout the room. You may even be able to bring in a small fish tank or water fountain.

You can also simulate the natural environment by bringing in sounds of a waterfall or birds chirping.

14. Consider Psychologist Support

If all the stress management strategies and programs outlined above don’t seem to be reducing a particular student’s stress levels, it may be helpful to get professional help. Referring your student to a psychologist may help them understand the deeper roots of stress.

Most schools will have an in-house psychologist that students can access free of cost. If your school doesn’t have a psychologist, look for community service or a private psychologist.

15. Be Aware of Your Own Stress Levels

Research has found that when teachers’ stress levels are high, their students’ stress levels also increase. Teachers who are stressed are more likely to be less effective in both teaching and classroom management. They also tend to be less connected to their students and less responsive to their needs.

To promote low stress levels for your students, you must ensure you aren’t approaching burnout yourself. Stress management for adults is similar to what we’ve discussed above regarding students.

Make sure you maintain a work-life balance and lead a healthy lifestyle, consisting of a nutritious diet and plenty of exercise. You should also practice mindfulness and ensure you’re getting continuous access to nature.

Furthermore, you should also review your school’s policies on stress. Many schools have programs in place to support teachers’ mental health. This may include access to therapy or incentives to attend exercise programs.

Key Takeaways

There are several ways to reduce elementary students’ stress in the classroom. Before you begin to address stressors, you need to identify the causes and symptoms of stress. Then, work with your students, their parents, and your school’s administration to build a holistic approach to managing stress. You should also monitor your own stress levels to ensure you are fully equipped to support your students.

Sources

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  4. How Many Years Does It Take To Become a Good Teacher?
  5. Should Elementary Teachers Give Homework? (The Ultimate Guide) 

Mr Mustafa

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