As providers and caretakers, adults tend to view the world of
children as happy and carefree. After all, kids don't have jobs
to keep or bills to pay, so what could they possibly have to
worry Plenty! Even very young children have worries and feel
stress to some degree. Stress is a function of the demands
placed on us and our ability to meet them. Sources of Stress
Pressures often come from outside sources (such as family,
friends, or school), but they can also come from within. The
pressure we place on ourselves can be most significant because
there is often a discrepancy between what we think we ought to
be doing and what we are actually doing in our lives. Stress can
affect anyone who feels overwhelmed - even kids. In
preschoolers, separation from parents can cause anxiety. As kids
get older, academic and social pressures (especially the quest
to fit in) create stress. Many kids are too busy to have time to
play creatively or relax after school. Kids who complain about
the number of activities they're invo