• Laura Janackova, Psychologist, Associate Prof., Czech Republic
    Dr Laura Janackova, Psychologist - Associate Prof., Czech Republic.

    Resist stress

    The most prominent problem which can spoil everyday activities for children is itchy skin. Children with eczema are usually nervous and cannot focus, and if they scratch, the situation gets worse. Discomfort steals away a peace of mind as well as sleep. Your child frequently wakes up and cries. You become exhausted. The long hours you spend calming your child and your feeling of helplessness result in an excessive psychological load connected to high stress. The most frequent reaction that parents have is self-pity or increased tension connected to aggression. After several sleepless nights, mothers may blame and doubt themselves. This is the moment when help from the child’s father or other close friends is needed.

    Dr Laura Janackova, Psychologist - Associate Prof., Czech Republic.
  • Katarina Vitkova, Psychologist, Slovak Republic
    Katarina Vitkova, Psychologist - Slovak Republic.

    Relaxing with your family

    Your child must feel that you both care for his/her emotions and that you're doing everything you can to help him/her feel better.

    Take time to relax together. It is good to teach children how to relax. In mindful relaxation, they can imagine how their tension, worries, pain and itching related to their psychological state and stress go away. For children, a short relaxation (3-5 minutes) is enough as they do not need to go as deeply as adults.

    Katarina Vitkova, Psychologist - Slovak Republic.

It is good to teach children how to relax. In mindful relaxation they can imagine how their tension, worries, pain and itching related to their psychological state and stress go away.

 

How do you relax?

“The best is to relax together with children. A calm atmosphere can be created with soothing music or aromatic essence. We guide the children with words which we have prepared or learned somewhere else in advance. The aim is for the children to focus on their breathing and body parts. Any position will do for children. Let them choose the most comfortable one.”

 

Saying the words that help most…

"Now a magical relaxing time has arrived. We lie down, and our body is peaceful. Only the belly and chest move along with our breath. If we do not provide them with clear instructions, they might hold their breath. Breathe aloud, so that they can hear you. Exaggerate the breathing in order to help them breathe deeply. You can find relaxing, therapeutic or healing fairy tales online. Or just use your imagination. At the end, you "wake them up" with a soothing voice or a soft musical instrument such as a triangle. Let them express their feelings and experience. Children need this very much.”

Key points to remember

  • Don't give in to feeling guilty, and don't try to assign blame.
  • Make some time for yourself to stay centred. Have a nap with your child if he/she slept poorly the previous night.
  • Show your child that you care about his/her problem.
  • Address tension through relaxation or sports.
  • Do not hesitate to seek help from a psychologist or family therapist.