Stress is often associated with adult responsibilities, yet children can experience stress just as deeply. School pressures, social dynamics, changes at home, overstimulation, and the fast pace of modern life can all affect a child’s emotional balance.
While stress is a natural response, repeated or poorly regulated stress can influence how children feel, behave, and cope day to day. Understanding how stress may appear, and knowing how to support a child gently and consistently, can make a meaningful difference.
Key Takeaways
- Stress in children is common and often overlooked
Emotional stress may show up through behaviour or physical symptoms rather than words.
- Modern stressors include digital overload
Excessive or poorly regulated screen time can contribute to emotional and nervous system strain.
- Early support helps build emotional regulation
Simple, body-based practices can help children return to calm more easily.
- Practising Sophrology together strengthens safety and confidence
Shared calming moments support both child and parent during stressful times.
- Sophrology can be a supportive, complementary approach
It offers gentle tools to calm the body and mind, alongside other forms of support.
How stress can appear in children
Children do not always have the language to explain how they feel. Because their nervous and emotional systems are still developing, stress often shows up through behaviour or physical sensations rather than clear verbal expression.
Parents may notice signs such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, emotional outbursts, withdrawal, or sudden changes in behaviour. Some children complain of headaches or stomach aches without a clear medical cause. Others may seem restless, easily overwhelmed, or have difficulty concentrating, particularly in stimulating environments.
These signs are not necessarily a cause for alarm, but they can be signals that a child’s nervous system is under pressure.
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Stress and the digital world
Children today grow up in a highly digital environment, where screens are part of learning, social interaction, and entertainment. While technology brings many benefits, recent research suggests that balance is important.
In its 2024 global mental health update, the World Health Organization highlights that mental health difficulties affect approximately one in seven children and adolescents worldwide, with stress and anxiety among the most common challenges. The organisation emphasises the importance of early emotional regulation and supportive environments.
Alongside this, a 2024 study published in JAMA Pediatrics observed that higher daily screen time in children aged 9 to 10 was associated with increased symptoms of stress and emotional dysregulation over time, particularly when screen use reduced sleep, physical activity, or in-person interaction.
These findings do not suggest that screens are inherently harmful, but they underline how cumulative stressors, including constant stimulation, can affect emotional balance. Regular moments of pause and calm can help counterbalance this effect.
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How Sophrology can support stressed children
Sophrology is a gentle mind-body practice combining breathing, body awareness, and visualisation. It works directly with the nervous system to help release tension and support emotional regulation.
For children, this body-based approach can be particularly accessible. It does not rely on analysis or verbal explanation, but on sensation and experience. Practised regularly, Sophrology can help children reconnect with calm, improve emotional awareness, and feel more confident when facing stressful moments.
Sophrology is not a treatment and does not replace medical or psychological care. It is a complementary practice that can be integrated alongside other forms of support.
The importance of practising together
Practising calming techniques together can be especially reassuring for children. Shared practices help children feel accompanied and supported, while reinforcing emotional safety.
There is no right or wrong way to practise. The simple act of slowing down together already sends a powerful message: stress is manageable, and taking time to pause is allowed.
With repetition, these shared moments can become familiar reference points for both child and adult during stressful situations.
A free practice to try with your child
To support families, BeSophro offers a free guided session led by Dominique Antiglio:
10-Minute Practice to Share with a Stressed Child
This session is designed to be practised together, helping both child and adult relax, calm the body, and re-centre body and mind. Using simple breathing and body awareness, it can be repeated regularly. Over time, it may help build confidence and emotional stability when stress arises.
Supporting children with care and consistency
Every child experiences stress differently. Creating regular moments of calm and introducing gentle, repeatable practices can support emotional balance while respecting each child’s rhythm.
These approaches do not aim to eliminate stress, but to help children develop a healthier relationship with it, strengthening their ability to return to calm and feel supported in everyday life.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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