Reading Right to Reduce Mental Stress
How has COVID-19 affected mental stress?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague our lives, the mental stress of it all is starting to compound. Parents being out of work, children out of school, and friends out of contact are situations draining all of us. The virus is continuing to make us live out a “new normal.” All of these changes lead to mental stress, especially for children. One of the best ways to unwind and release some of your child’s tension is to encourage reading and creative writing. By taking up a pen or pencil, a child can take control of their own stories or escape to one of their choosing with a book.
How reading helps reduce mental stress
When children immerse themselves in a story, they focus on visually picturing the story in their minds’ eye. Many studies show that reading fiction can reduce stress more than listening to music or taking a walk. By staying engaged in the story, your heart rate slows which leads to being more relaxed. Even if your child struggles to stay engaged, keeping their attention for just six minutes is enough to reduce their stress. You can work in study time on any occasion. Whether it be right after breakfast or before bedtime, you can pick up a book with your child at any point in the day.
Reading books outside of the classroom can reinforce it as a fun activity for your little ones. When you do it with them, let them choose the book. Giving them the power to choose helps your child gain a sense of autonomy. Next time, they might ask you to read to them instead of needing you to prompt them. If they don’t have any books in mind, look at your school or library’s reading lists for ideas about books to read. Making reading time a routine could be a good stress reliever. Having a set time and place removes the need to look for places to work it into your daily schedule. It also makes it easier for children to immerse themselves in the story. Keep the designated studying area distraction-free for an even better experience. Turn off all of your electronic devices and read to all of your children at once (if you have more than one smaller child). On top of reading, writing can also help reduce mental stress in children.
How writing helps reduce mental stress
As the pandemic rages on, your child’s emotions must be all over the place. One way to let those emotions out constructively could be to keep a journal. A University of Texas study found that college students who wrote about their feelings were less likely to go to the campus health center and used pain relievers less. The students were tasked to write down their feelings for 15 minutes and then go about the rest of their day. Letting your child explore their feelings by writing them down helps them to process their mental stress. Taking the time to acknowledge what’s wrong is the first step to facing their fears about the pandemic.
In addition to journaling about their feelings, children can also improve their creative writing skills to reduce their stress. Similar to reading, creative writing exercises give children the chance to escape from reality for just a moment. The distraction can improve their mood and reduce anxiety about these troubling times. Instead of turning on the TV and flipping through news stations and cartoons, a child can make up their own creative writing story. Taking a breather with writing allows your child to reset and get ready for the rest of the day.
Steps you can take as a parent
Reading and writing allow your child to not only learn but also grow their creativity. Creative writing for kids can help them grow as a writer outside of the classroom. For kids reading k12, especially reading high school, can be boring, but allowing your child to pick a book helps. Incorporate English creative writing into your child’s routine to help them grow in and outside of a school setting.
