Children show stress differently at different ages. Not all signs may be seen in all children. Some of the signs you might see are:

• Acting out
• Eating problems
• Sleeping problems like nightmares
• Irritability
• Crying a lot
• Showing that they’re scared to be alone, like clinging to loved ones
• Withdrawing from others
• Feeling like they can’t trust others
• Losing interest in things like school or friends
• Physical signs like headaches or stomachaches
• Signs of nervousness, like biting their nails or sucking their thumbs
• Going back to old behaviours they outgrew, like wetting the bed

Preteens and teens may also show stress by:

• Going against rules or expectations
• Showing a lot of anger or distrust
• Showing poor self-esteem, like putting themselves down or assuming that others won’t like them

Of course, every child is unique. Personality also plays a part in how your child reacts to stress. That’s why some children seem to carry on without much difficulty while others are bothered by small changes. You can’t change your child’s personality, but you can help your child build good stress management skills.