Little Kids, Big Worries

This is the practical book early childhood professionals need to recognize stress in young children—and intervene with proven relief strategies before pressures turn into big problems.

Developed by celebrated early childhood expert Alice Sterling Honig, this guidebook helps readers address the most common causes of stress in a young child’s life, including separation anxiety, bullying, jealousy, and family circumstances. Educators and childcare providers will:
• understand key factors that influence a child’s stress level, including attachment, temperament, developmental and learning challenges, health issues, and family pressures
• become a keen observer of the varied and sometimes subtle ways that children express stress
• choose from a wide range of stress-busting techniques
• personalize stress-busters to meet the needs of individual children
• skillfully use stress-reducing strategies with groups of children from diverse backgrounds
• harness the power of storytelling to model solutions to problems and help children address negative feelings
• avoid burnout by handling the stresses in their own adult lives, from challenging parents to co-workers

Packed with down-to-earth, easy-to-use ideas, this empowering book gives professionals the tools they need to conquer stress in any early childhood setting— so children can develop the early social and academic skills they’ll need to succeed in school.