Arcadia Elementary 2007/2008 Calendar

Raising Healthy Children

Note: All information on Kids Health is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

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Worrying

What Kids Say About: Worrying

Everybody worries. Grown-ups do it and kids do it, too. But what do kids worry about? KidsHealth wanted to know, so we asked 1,004 kids ages 9 to 13. Here's a list of the top 8 worries:

Did you notice grades are the No. 1 worry? You get an "A" for your powers of observation! Let's take a closer look at the numbers:

That means 53% of kids - more than half - said they worry about their grades either daily or weekly.

If kids are worried about grades, there are steps they can take, says Chris Cortellessa, a school counselor in Pennsylvania. She recommends that kids ask themselves these questions and then look to parents, teachers, or counselors to help them decide what to do about it.

And what about the rest of the kids - 17% - who said they didn't ever worry about grades? Are they getting straight "As" or what? Could be. But they also might be among a group of people who just don't worry that much.

Worries in More Detail
Looks and appearance are another major worry among the kids we surveyed. Overall, 43% of kids said they worry either every day or every week about looks.

Girls were more likely than boys to worry about this (39% vs. 30%), but plenty of boys are concerned with their looks, too.

In a related worry, nearly one-third of kids said they worry every day or week that they are out of shape or overweight. Another 28% worry every month or once in a while, and 40% said they never worry about this.

Problems at home was the No. 3 worry with 39% of kids saying they worry about this every day or week. Another 50% of kids say they worry about home problems monthly or once in a while. Only 11% say they never worry about this.

Kids want to be liked and fit in at school. One-third of them worries about this every day or week, but another third never worries about this at all. The final third is in the middle - worrying about it only once a month or once in a while.

What Is Worry?
It might help to understand a little about the nature of worry and what it is. If you worry, take heart. It makes sense to worry sometimes. If you haven't studied and it's time for a major test, it makes sense that you'll be worried about how you'll do.

With worrying, the important thing is to figure out if you can take action that will lessen your worry and help you avoid whatever you're worrying about. For instance, you might want to study for that test next time! That's a case when a little worry can be helpful. You're worried about the test, so you get down to business and study hard.

Other worries are harder to solve. You might worry about problems at home - which 39% of kids said they do every day or week. You might not be able to take steps to solve a problem, such as divorce in your family. But you can decide to talk about your worries with people who care about you. In fact, 25% of kids say they talk to their parents about their worries and 25% said they talked to friends.

About a quarter of the kids said they turned to the Internet when they were worried. That can be helpful in some cases - like when you're on this site, we hope! But the Internet may not be enough for some worries. You might want to use it as a starting point and then talk to someone about what you learned on the Internet.

Only 9% said they try to do something about what is causing their worries, and about one-quarter of kids keep their worries to themselves. Kids don't have to tell everyone everything, but if they have serious worries, it's usually best to reach out to someone who can help. Parents and friends were the top choices, but some kids said they talk to teachers (13%) or doctors and nurses (4%).

Sometimes worry gets to be too much. It can make small problems seem bigger than they are. And if the problem is actually a big one, just worrying about it probably won't help. Worry can even hurt your sleep and keep you from having fun and doing your best. But the last thing we want you to do is worry about worrying!

Just remember there is always something you can do - even if it's a very small step - to begin easing your worries. Often, that first step is simply talking with someone who cares about you.

What's a KidsPoll?
The group that took this KidsPoll included an almost equal number of boys and girls who were between 9 and 13 years old. They answered the questions on handheld data devices while visiting these health education centers and children's museums:

A poll, like the KidsPoll, asks people a list of questions. Then researchers compile all the answers and look at the way the group answered. They calculate how many - or what percentage - answered "yes" to this question and "no" to that one. Polls give us clues about how most people - not just the ones who answered the poll questions - feel about certain issues. We'll be conducting more KidsPolls in the future to find out what kids say - maybe you'll be part of one!

Oooh, Your Aching Head!

(from Kidshealth)

You're having a perfectly good day when, all of a sudden, your head starts to ache. You can't concentrate on what you're doing because your head hurts so much. You might even feel sick to your stomach.

What's going on here? Why do kids get headaches anyway? And most importantly, how can you make the hurting go away or keep it from happening? One thing's for sure: If you get headaches, you're not alone. Lots of kids have headaches from time to time. In fact, it's more unusual for someone not to have had a headache at least once before his or her early teens. Let's find out more about headaches and how you can stop them from happening.

Although it may feel like it, a headache is not a pain in your brain. Your brain tells you when other parts of your body hurt, but it can't actually feel pain. Most headaches happen outside your skull, in the nerves, blood vessels, and muscles that cover your head and neck. Sometimes the muscles or blood vessels swell, which means they get larger.

They also can tighten or go through other changes that stimulate or put pressure on the surrounding nerves. The nerves send a rush of pain messages to your brain, and you end up with a headache.

The most common type of headache is a tension, or muscle-contraction, headache. This happens when stressed-out head or neck muscles keep squeezing too hard. When you get this kind of headache, the pain is usually dull and constant. It might feel as though something is pressing or squeezing on the front, back, or both sides of your head.

Pain that's especially sharp and throbbing can be a sign of a different kind of headache called a migraine (say: my-grayne). Migraine headaches aren't as common as tension headaches, especially in kids, but they can still happen. Sometimes, just before a migraine happens, the person sees wavy lines or bright spots of light. This is called an aura (say: or-uh). Also, kids who get migraines often feel sick to their stomachs and sometimes throw up.

Sometimes a headache is just a part of another illness, such as a cold or flu or strep throat. When you get better, the headache gets better, too. If you're not sick, other triggers may cause a headache. For example, staying up too late, skipping a meal, or playing in the hot sun too long can set off a headache.

Excitement about a special event or worry about something (a school exam, for instance) can also cause headaches. Some kids get headaches from riding in a car or bus or from straining their eyes by spending too much time watching TV or using a computer.

Strong odors, such as perfume, smoke, fumes, or the smell of a new car or carpet, can start a headache.

Some foods can cause headaches in some kids, such as bacon, bologna, and hot dogs. The caffeine in sodas, chocolate, coffee, and tea may cause headaches, too. Kids don't need caffeine, so it's a good idea to limit it in your diet.

Sometimes no one knows why a kid gets headaches, but if you get them, chances are someone in your family gets them, too. The tendency to get headaches is often inherited. In other words, it runs in the family.

Most headaches will go away after you've rested or slept awhile. When you get one, the first thing you should do is tell an adult, so he or she can help. Lie down in a cool, dark, quiet room and close your eyes. Put a cool, moist cloth across your forehead or eyes. Relax. Breathe easily and deeply.

A grown-up can give you a pain relief medicine - either acetaminophen (say: uh-see-tuh-mih-nuh-fun) or ibuprofen (say: i-byoo-pro-fun). You want to avoid taking aspirin for a headache because it may cause a rare but dangerous disease called Reye syndrome (say: rye sin-drome).

Headaches are very rarely a sign of anything serious, such as a brain tumor or meningitis. This is especially true for kids. Headache triggers such as eating certain foods, being stressed out, or not getting enough sleep are much more likely causes of headaches in kids. Or sometimes, there's no obvious reason at all.

Still, there are times when your mom or dad should talk with the doctor about your headaches:

A doctor can help you and your parents figure out why you're getting headaches and might be able to help you keep them from happening so often. Sometimes relaxation exercises or changes in diet or sleeping habits are all that's needed. If necessary, a doctor also can prescribe medication to control headaches.

If you're bothered by headaches, you don't have to put up with the pain. Sometimes relief is just a nap away. Other times, seeing a doctor may be necessary. But there's almost always something that you, your parents, and your doctor can do to help.

Updated and reviewed by: Margaret C. McBride, MD
Date reviewed: August 2004
Originally reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

When Tests Make You Nervous

Today's the day of a big test at school, and you feel awful. Your stomach hurts and you have a headache. Maybe your muscles feel tense and you feel shaky or sweaty. You know you haven't been bitten by the flu bug - but you may have a case of the jitters, also known as test anxiety.

Here's how test anxiety works. Let's say you're worried about your math test because you didn't do so well on the last one. Or maybe you're kind of tense because you did great on the last one and you're the kind of kid who likes to get all As. When you're feeling worried and tense, your whole body can be affected.

Performance Anxiety
Test anxiety is actually a type of performance anxiety. Performance anxiety is when a person feels worried about how they will perform (do on something), especially when it's really important. For instance, you might feel performance anxiety when you're trying out for the school band or for the basketball team.

When you're taking a test, you might feel "butterflies," a stomachache, or a tension headache. Some people might feel shaky, sweaty, or feel their heart beating quickly as they wait for the test to be given out. A student with really strong test anxiety may even feel like he or she might pass out or throw up.

Sound familiar? You're not alone. Ask other people and you'll find that just about all people - adults and other - feel some anxiety before a test. In fact, a small dose of anxiety can be helpful, keeping you sharp and focused. But when your symptoms take over so that you can't function or when you're so anxious that you feel sick, you might not be able to do your best.

Of course, if you didn't study for the test, you might be worried - and for good reason. That kind of anxiety isn't as easy to tackle because even if you find a way to calm down, you still might not know what the right answers are. When you are prepared for a test and you get a handle on your anxiety, you'll be able to let your knowledge shine and score a good grade.

No More Tests?
If teachers know that students get stressed out about tests, why do they still give them? Believe it or not, both teachers and students benefit from tests. Tests measure how well students are learning the skills and information their teachers have been teaching them. And tests of all different sorts are a part of life - from the driving test you'll take one day to the test you'll take if you decide you want to be a doctor.

What Makes Anxiety Happen?
Well, because we can't outlaw tests, we might as well figure out how to ease test anxiety. Anxiety is a feeling a person gets when he or she expects something stressful to happen. When you're under stress, your body releases the hormone adrenaline, which prepares it for danger, like when you're running away from your older brother! Adrenaline causes the physical symptoms, such as sweating, a pounding heart, and rapid breathing. These symptoms can be mild or intense.

Focusing on the bad things that could happen can make a kid feel more worried. A kid might think, "What if I forget everything I know?" or "What if the test is too hard?" Too many thoughts like these don't leave much room in your mind to concentrate on remembering the answers to the test questions. People with test anxiety can also feel stressed out by the physical reaction and think things like "What if I throw up?" or "Oh no, my hands are shaking."

These thoughts can get the person even more upset, making the anxiety even stronger. Now, the person feels worse and is even more distracted and unable to concentrate.

Who Gets Test Anxiety?
Anyone can get test anxiety, but someone who really wants to get every answer right might be more prone to feeling this way. This is called being a perfectionist (say: per-fek-shuh-nist). Kids who worry a lot also might feel anxious at test time. Perfectionists and worriers find it hard to accept mistakes they make or to get less than a perfect score. This creates more pressure for them.

As we mentioned before, not being prepared for a test (duh!) can cause test anxiety. Kids who don't get enough sleep also can be more prone to test anxiety.

What Can You Do?
You might be reading this article and saying, "Hey, that sounds just like me!" If so, we're glad you recognize that this happens to you. Now you can start taking steps to lessen your test anxiety. Here are some ways to do that:

Ask for help. Talk to your mom or dad, your teacher, or your school guidance counselor. Just talking to someone about test anxiety can make you feel better. Describe what happens to you when you're taking a test and these people can help you figure out some solutions. For instance, learning study skills can boost your test-day confidence.

Be prepared. Pay attention in class. Do your homework. Study for the test. On test day, you're more likely to feel like you know the material.

Expect the best. Once you have prepared, think positively. Say to yourself, "I studied and I'm ready to do my best."

Block bad thoughts. Watch out for any negative messages you might be sending yourself about the test ("I'm no good at taking tests" or "I'm going to freak out if I get a bad grade"). These thoughts can make anxiety worse and make it harder for you to do well on the test.

Accept mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. Be more forgiving of your own mistakes, especially if you prepared for the test and are set to do your best.

Take care of yourself. You'll feel your best if you get enough playtime, sleep, and nutritious food. This is important all the time, but be extra-sure you get all three the day before a test.

Breathe better. OK, so you already know how to breathe. But did you know that breathing exercises can help calm you down? (Just try not to take in too much air because it might make you feel dizzy.) Here's how to do it: Inhale (breathe in) slowly and deeply through your nose, and then exhale (breathe out) slowly through your mouth. Do this two to four times and you just might breathe easier the next time you're taking a test!

Shyness

Have you ever watched The Rugrats? Maybe you've noticed something about Chuckie Finster, the redheaded kid. There are times when Chuckie does not like to play in the sandbox with other kids. Chuckie is shy. Lots of kids and adults are shy. Maybe you are one of them.

Shyness means to feel a little scared when you're around other people. Just about everybody feels shy sometimes. If you're the new kid in class or your great-aunt Betty wants to give you a big hug, it can make you feel shy.

Nobody sits around and says, "Well, I think I'll be shy today." It is just something that happens. It can just sneak up on you. You might feel fine practicing your soccer kicks, but you feel nervous when the coach comes over to give you a few pointers.

But being shy isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's OK if it takes you a while to feel comfortable with new people and new situations. In fact, it can even be helpful to be a little shy. When you're shy, you may spend a little extra time observing the scene before jumping right into it. And you're unlikely to talk to strangers, which you shouldn't do anyway!

Some kids are born shy and more sensitive. Sometimes even babies act shy. Have you ever seen a baby hide his or her face from a stranger? On the other hand, another baby might kick, smile, and wave at everyone, even strangers.

But if you weren't shy as a little kid, it's still possible to be a shy person. You might have learned to be shy because of experiences you've had at school or home. And sometimes you only feel shy for a short while, like the first time you get on a new school bus. This type of shyness often goes away after you get adjusted. For instance, after a few days, you'll probably have a seat you like to sit in and you'll get to know friends on the bus.

Sometimes, people become so shy they are afraid to do simple things in life. For example, they won't go to a restaurant because they are too nervous to order and pay for their food. Some people are so shy about meeting new people that they rarely go outside. Doctors and psychologists often can help the person work through this kind of shyness.

If your shyness is keeping you from doing stuff you want to do, talk to someone about it. Parents, teachers, counselors, and doctors are all good people to turn to. Talking about your shyness may help you get over it. Or your friends or parents may tell you that they, too, have the same shy feelings and what they do to feel less shy. If you still feel really shy, your mom or dad might take you to see a psychologist. He or she can help you figure out how to feel more at ease around people.

If you know someone who's shy, try to help the person feel less nervous. Name-calling or teasing will make your friend feel even more shy, so try not to do it. The more time you spend with the person, the less shy he or she will feel around you. You might even tell him or her about a time that you felt shy. It will help your friend to understand that everyone feels shy sometimes, even you!

Updated and reviewed by: Pamela Bushnell, LCSW
Date reviewed: October 2004
Originally reviewed by: Pamela Bushnell, LCSW, and Steven Dowshen, MD

The Story on Stress

Have you ever felt sick to your stomach during a test? Have you had days when you were so loaded down with homework that you had trouble sleeping? Have you ever been so worried about something that you ended up with a terrible headache?

If so, then you know what it's like to feel stress. You've probably heard people say, "Wow, I'm really stressed out" or "This is making me totally stressed." Maybe you hear adults say those kinds of things all the time. But kids have lots of things going on in their lives that can cause stress, too.

What Is Stress?
Stress is what you feel when you are worried or uncomfortable about something. This worry in your mind can make your body feel bad. You may feel angry, frustrated, scared, or afraid - which can give you a stomachache or a headache.

When you're stressed you may not feel like sleeping or eating. You also may feel cranky or have trouble paying attention at school and remembering things at home.

What Causes Stress?
Plenty of things can cause stress in a kid's life. The trick is to remember that some types of stress are good and others are bad. Good or normal stress might show up when you're called on in class or when you have to give a report. Have you ever gotten butterflies in your stomach or sweaty hands? Those can be signs of good stress - the kind of stress that can help you to get things done. For example, you may do a better job on your book report if the anxiety inspires you to prepare well before you get up and read it to the class.

But bad stress can happen if the stressful feelings keep going over time. You may not feel well if your parents are fighting, if a family member is sick, if you're having problems at school, or if you're going through anything else that makes you upset every day. That kind of stress isn't going to help you, and it can actually make you sick.

Once you recognize that you're feeling stressed, there are several things you can do. You can try talking about what's bothering you with an adult you trust, like a parent or teacher. Bring up what's been on your mind and how it makes you feel. An adult may have ideas about how to solve whatever is worrying you or making you uncomfortable.

Are You Too Busy?
If you're feeling tired and stressed because you have too much going on, like lots of after-school activities, you might feel better if you drop something, even if it's just for a semester or so. Sometimes lots of activities - even if they're all fun - can make you feel stressed by keeping you busy all the time. On the other hand, if problems at home are bugging you, some (but not too many!) after-school activities may actually help you relax and feel better.

There are also relaxation exercises that you can use to get rid of stress. The easiest one to do is to inhale (breathe in) slowly and deeply through your nose, and then exhale (breathe out) slowly through your mouth. Do this two to four times, but don't take in too much air too quickly because it can make you feel lightheaded and dizzy.

Another exercise can help you if you're having trouble sleeping: tense and relax your muscles slowly, starting at your toes and working your way up your body. Tense and relax your toes. Then do the same with your toes and your ankles. Then, your toes, ankles, and calves. Then toes, ankles, calves, and thighs. Keep going up your body until you get to the top of your head! You can do exercises like these anytime, without anyone noticing. You can even do breathing exercises in class if you're nervous before a test.

Finding a Balance
The best way to keep stress away is to have a balanced life. That means everything in your life should get equal time. If you're only dealing with school stuff and have no time to play, you can get stressed. Make sure you keep your SELF in mind: Sleep, Exercise, Leisure (something fun), and Food. If you take care of yourself and get enough sleep and food, and if you exercise and leave time for fun stuff, you'll probably be less stressed out!

Updated and reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: August 2003
Originally reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Relaxation, Guided Imagery, and Visualization Techniques

Children with ADD/ADHD and other psychological disorders are often in a state of stress in school. It is therapeutic to teach them strategies (at home, school, or in private therapy) to help them calm down and relax. Hyperactive/impulsive children, in particular, gain the most from learning techniques that relax their minds and bodies, recognize their internal feelings, and release inner tension. These strategies empower children with a feeling of peace and self-control.

There are a variety of techniques that have proven effective in helping us to slow down, and to improve focus and awareness. One book, in particular, is a gold mine of wonderful ideas, step-by-step exercises, and activities for teachers and parents to help children achieve this sense of relaxation and well-being. Centerplay: Focusing Your Child's Energy, was written by Holly Young Huth, a relaxation consultant and teacher specializing in early childhood education.

Laughter is one of the best ways to release stress and feel good. The chemicals released in the body through laughter reduce pain and tension. So, there is probably no substitute for finding ways to have fun and to laugh with our children.

Many of us know the positive effects of controlled breathing through our training in Lamaze or other natural-childbirth classes. Controlled, conscious breathing has the benefit of relaxing muscles and reducing stress. Many believe it is useful in the management, perhaps cure, of some physical ailments and disease.

 Help your child learn to take conscious, deep breaths to relax. Show him how to inhale deeply (preferably through the nose, but through the mouth is fine) and slowly exhale through the mouth.

 Teach your child to isolate different body parts and relax them with each slow breath she exhales. For example, while lying on the floor, instruct her to tighten or squeeze her toes on the left foot, then relax with a deep breath. Now tighten her left knee and upper leg . . . then relax and breathe. Proceed in this fashion to the right side of the lower body, to the abdomen and upper body, each arm, hand/fingers, chest, neck, jaws, and face.

 It is particularly helpful for children to recognize that when they are nervous, stressed, and angry, they should feel the tightening of certain body parts. If they can recognize when fists clench, jaws tighten, and stomachs harden, they have the power over their bodies to relax and gain control. They can begin to breathe deeply and "send" their breaths consciously to relax body parts. By sending the breaths to his hand, your child can silently prompt himself to relax his hand (until the fist is released and fingers are loose). Teach your child that when his body is relaxed, he is better able to think and plan.

 Help guide your child to visualize that with each breath she takes in, her body becomes filled slowly with a soothing color, aroma, sound, light, warmth, or other pleasant, comfortable feeling.

 Ask your child to think of a color that makes him feel very comfortable, peaceful, and relaxed. Then have him practice -- with closed eyes -- breathing in that color and "sending" it (blowing it) throughout the body. If your child, for example, chooses "turquoise," guide him to visualize the turquoise going down his throat, into the neck and chest, down to the stomach, and so on until he is filled with the beautiful, peaceful, wonderful turquoise . . . and is relaxed and in control.

Various yoga postures and slow movement games and exercises are fun and helpful for teaching children to relax, use controlled movements, and increase their creative imagination and imagery skills. Some movements and postures shared in Centerplay include: scaling through space; climbing a pyramid; carrying a fragile gift to someone; being a scarecrow, ragdoll, and popped balloon.

The ability to visualize with colorful, vivid images, rich imagination and detailed action are natural skills of childhood. These same skills have been found to be very useful in empowering people to overcome obstacles in their lives, improve memory, enhance learning, and to be healing -- physically, mentally, and emotionally. Imagery is helpful in developing focus and concentration; calming; coping with stress/anxiety; and increasing positive study skills, social skills, and creative expression.

 There are specialists who train individuals in these techniques, and who use visualization/guided imagery as part of their therapy in treatment of different health, social, behavioral, and emotional problems.

 There are also books and resources that teach how to use these techniques for self-help and management. One of these resources is Imagery for Kids: Discovering Your Special Place, an audiotape combining gentle music and a guided journey, developed and presented by Dr. Charlotte Reznick, educational psychologist.

 Teach your child to visualize herself in situations where she is achieving and being successful. Once she's had practice with guided visualization, encourage her to use the techniques of deep breathing and visualizing herself doing what she wants to do.

For example, prior to taking a test, she can visualize herself in detail working diligently taking the test. Encourage her to see herself being persistent and reading each item carefully, being relaxed and not getting nervous or excited, and being confident with her answers. Have her picture herself finishing the test, then going back and checking for careless errors. In addition, playing the theme song from the movie Rocky or another motivational song can help build confidence.

Music can be very helpful for relaxation, as a previsualization activity, to soothe away worries and distractions, and bring a sense of inner peace.

 Music also stimulates the brain in other ways besides relaxation. Many people find that they are better able to focus -- and are more productive and motivated -- when listening to the radio or some of their favorite music.

 Many teachers find that playing cassettes/CDs of classical music, soothing environmental sounds, and instrumental arrangements is very effective in the classroom. Different forms of music have been found to be effective in increasing the ability to focus and concentrate; calm, soothe, and relax; and enhance learning, creativity, and critical-thinking skills.

 Research has found that instrumental musical arrangements at 60 beats per minute has therapeutic effects. Gary Lamb creates music (at 60 beats per minute) that is widely used in different settings (classrooms, pain clinics, hospitals). Some of the music is recommended for use when teaching handwriting, art, and creative writing, and to play during math testing, science labs, computer labs, homework time, silent reading, and so forth. For more information about Gary Lamb's music, call 800-772-7701.

 Musical therapy is being used in different settings, and research supports that listening to various rhythmic patterns has calming and focusing effects. Calming Rhythms developed by REI Institute, Inc., is another audiocassette designed for this purpose (800-659-6644).

Five Steps for Fighting Stress

Everybody gets stressed from time to time. Different people feel stress in different ways. Some ways of dealing with stress - like screaming, hitting someone, or punching a wall - don't solve much. But other ways, like talking to someone you trust, can start you on the road to solving your problem or at least feeling better.

1. Get support. When you need help, reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, other relative, a school counselor, or a coach. And don't forget about your friends. They might be worried about the same test or have had similar problems, such as dealing with a divorce or the death of a beloved pet.

2. Don't freak out! It's easy to let your feelings go wild when you're upset. Notice your feelings. Name them - for example, "I am so angry!" And find a way to express them. Do breathing exercises, listen to music, write in a journal, play with a pet, go for a walk or a bike ride, or do whatever helps you shift to a better mood.

3. Don't take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. Oh dear, that's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don't take it out on yourself. Be kind to yourself and ask for the helping hand or pat on the back that you need - and deserve - to get you through the tough situation you're facing.

4. Try to solve the problem. After you're calm and you have support from adults and friends, it's time to get down to business. You need to figure out what the problem is. Even if you can't solve all of it, maybe you can begin by solving a piece of it.

5. Be positive - most stress is temporary. It may not seem like it when you're in the middle a stressful situation, but stress does go away, often when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it. These five steps aren't magic - and you might have to do some steps more than once, but they do work. And if you can stay positive as you make your way through a tough time, you'll help yourself feel better even faster. Ah . . . it feels so good when the stress is gone!

Caffeine and Your Child!

Is It the Cold or The Flu?

Anxiety, Fears, & Fobias

Self Esteem

What Kids Say About: Worrying

Oooh, Your Aching Head!

(from Kidshealth)

When Tests Make You Nervous

Shyness

The Story on Stress

Relaxation, Guided Imagery, and Visualization Techniques

Five Steps for Fighting Stress