Stress:

Stress is a normal response to situational pressures or demands, especially if they are perceived as threatening or dangerous. Stress symptoms can affect your health, even though you might not realize it.

Most of the threats people face today aren’t something that they can fight or run away from. These threats are usually problems that people have to work through. Stress comes from both the good and the bad things that happen to us. 

Stress symptoms can affect our bodies, our thoughts, feelings, and our behaviour. Stress may feel overwhelming at times, but some stress can be a good thing. It can motivate us to focus on a task or take action and solve a problem. It is important to remember that stress is a reaction to a situation- it is not about the actual situation. With the proper tools and strategies, stress can be managed in a healthy manner.

Worry Says What?

Worries are nervous or anxious thoughts or feelings about what is happening or might happen.

Allison Edwards, author of the best-selling book “Why Smart Kids Worry”, gives a glimpse into the ways worry whispers to young minds. In her book, she offers a powerful tool all children can use to silence those fears.

Some Other Great Read Alouds and Resources on the Topic of Worry:

Advice Column Writing (re Stress and Worry):

After reading some of the various read alouds addressing worry, have students respond to an advice column regarding anxiety and worry allowing them the opportunity to express the tools and strategies they’ve picked up throughout the unit and class discussions.