A local middle school is having development day for their students. Instead of going to classes for curriculum in the morning, they go to workshops for part of the day. What a great, innovative idea. I applaud such thought.
I was invited to hold two one-hour workshops on stress management tools for kids. Since this is an expertise of mine, I was excited and ready to explore an outline for the event.
About 50% of the clients that I see on a private basis are children. The stress management workshops I hold are majority corporate or adult groups such as battered women or spiritual, self-enhancement groups. So outlining such a workshop would be a bit different and possibly challenging since the kids are kids and focus is at a minimum.
Once I got started on the outline, exercises, and innovative ways to hold their attention, I began to think, “Oh my, how on earth am I going to get all the information I would love to share in one hour?” How can I teach these kids the multiple tools I have to alleviate some of their stress in hopes that they will walk away with something that they can use.
Of course, I finished the outline with much packed into the hour. But confirmed once again to myself, the point that school systems across the country really need stress management workshops for their children of at least… the very least…. two two-hour classes.
In these times where education funding is at an all time low and outside monies are not available, I can understand why this isn’t a priority. But just think of the enhancement that children would have using techniques taught at a stress management clinic. They would test better. They would focus more. They would identify just where their stress may lie physically. And most of all, they would come out having a better understanding of stress, how it affects their body, mind and self-esteem and those tools needed to combat it for life.
I really feel and urge educators that teen stress management is equally important as notebook organization and to take time and money out of their budget to adequately inspire children to de-stress !!
