Stress facts for kids

Stress is a word with a few different meanings, but it often describes how we feel when we are under pressure or facing challenges. It can also mean putting emphasis on something, like a word or a musical note, or even the force applied to an object.

Stress and Your Body

When people talk about stress, they usually mean the kind that affects our minds and bodies. It's a natural reaction to demands or challenges in our lives.

What is Psychological Stress?

Psychological stress is a feeling of mental strain or pressure. It happens when you feel like you don't have enough resources to cope with something. For example, you might feel stressed before a big test, when moving to a new school, or if you have a disagreement with a friend. It's a normal part of life, and everyone experiences it sometimes.

How Your Body Reacts to Stress

When you feel stressed, your body gets ready to deal with the challenge. It releases special chemicals that make your heart beat faster, your breathing quicken, and your muscles tense up. This is sometimes called the "fight or flight" response, because it prepares you to either face the problem or get away from it quickly.

Good Stress, Bad Stress

Not all stress is bad!

• Eustress is a type of positive stress. It can motivate you to do your best, like when you're excited about a sports game or a performance. It helps you focus and perform better.
• Chronic stress is when stress lasts for a long time. This kind of stress can be harmful to your health. It can make you feel tired, sad, or even sick if it goes on for too long without a break. Learning ways to manage stress is important for your well-being.

Other Kinds of Stress

The word "stress" is also used in other areas, not just for how we feel.

Stress in Language

In language, stress means putting more emphasis on certain parts of words or sentences. For example, in the word "present," if you say PREsent (with emphasis on the first part), it means a gift. But if you say preSENT (with emphasis on the second part), it means to show something. This emphasis helps us understand the meaning.

Stress in Music

In music, stress is similar to language. It refers to an accent or emphasis on a particular note or beat. This helps create rhythm and feeling in a song.

Stress as a Game

There is also a card game called Stress. It's a fast-paced game where players try to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible.

Images for kids

• Stress (psychological).jpg

  Psychological stress can make you feel worried or overwhelmed.

• Stress (linguistics).jpg

  In English, we often stress one part of a word more than others.