Parents can help children deal with stress

BINGHAMTON , N.Y., April 15 (UPI) -- Without the stress of everyday life, life may get boring, but a U.S. expert says stress overload can cause a child to be withdrawn, depressed or suicidal.

Mary Muscari, associate professor at the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University, says some people love stress and are very productive under pressure, while others dread it and fall apart.

"Too little stress can be as bad as too much stress because constant boredom can make you feel sad and even depressed," Muscari said in a statement.

"Without the stress of everyday things, people wouldn't have to deal with the everyday events that make people think, respond to problems and grow."

The key to stress management is to help achieve balance. Muscari advises to:

-- Make sure children eat right and get plenty of exercise and rest.

-- Advise children to listen to music and play with their pets.

-- Discourage the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs.

-- Help children replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Instead of saying, "I'm stupid," encourage a child to say, "we all make mistakes."