Recognizing the signs of stress in kids and taking measures to curb it not only helps alleviate the worries of your child but can also improve his performance at school and his chances of success in life.

As authors Marjorie R. Simic, Melinda McClain, and Michael Shermis explain in their book The Confident Learner, people deal with stressful situations in many different ways. Some tackle external pressures with a boost of energy and self-confidence while others react strongly with debilitating physical or mental responses. Some common symptoms of stress in children include: withdrawal from activities they previously enjoyed, refusal to interact with others, a tendency to blame their problems on others, behavior like that of little children, fear of school and everything associated with it, and physical symptoms including headaches, nausea, bed wetting, and frequent nightmares.

"These signs of stress in children should be taken seriously because they can lead to continuing problems in school and in the child's attitude toward life," warn the authors of The Confident Learner. What can you do to help your child cope with stress? Simic, McClain, and Shermis offer the following tips:

• Tell your child you have noticed that something is bothering her. Children need to know that someone recognizes that they have a problem.
• Try to put as much order in your child's life as possible: provide a place to study, set aside specific times for school work, meals, chores, entertainment, and bedtime.
• Give your child regular encouragement about the things he does well.
• Help your child build friendships that support him. Encourage her to invite friends over.
• Be a good listener. Give your child a chance to express his feelings.
• Give hugs and signs of affection.
• Reassure your child that all kids have pressures or fears. She is not alone.
• Suggest activities that can help your child cope with stress. Laughter, exercise, counting to ten, and keeping a journal are all ways to beat stress.