Helping your child learn the difference between positive and negative stress
Parents would all like their children to perform at their best and achieve their goals.
But how much pressure is enough and how can you avoid the extremes of either overloading them, or leaving them with too little motivation?
RELATED: Minimise school kids' exam stress by helping them prepare early
Parenting expert Nikki Bush says it's all about maintaining a dynamic balance.
The human system needs just the right amount of pressure and tension in order to perform... There are two kinds of stress: there's eustress, which is positive stress and there's distress.
Nikki Bush, Parenting expert
She says too much pressure and too little pressure can result in much the same effect.
When you burn out, you lose that ability to push yourself because suddenly you are emotionally depleted, you are physically exhausted, you become detached from your goals and the people around you.
Nikki Bush, Parenting expert
Bush points out that every member of a family will have a different stress threshold and the key is to get to know your children's limits through observing them and having conversations with them.
We need to teach our families how to read their own stress responses because they need to know what's optimal for them.
Nikki Bush, Parenting expert
For pointers on the kinds of conversations to have with your children to map their stress, take a listen:
This article first appeared on 702 : Helping your child learn the difference between positive and negative stress
More from Lifestyle

SA actress Quanita Adams shares 80s and 90s hits on Sunday
The Multiple award-winning South African actress shares her favourite feel-good songs from the 80s and 90s on #AnHourWith at 10am.
Read More
John Maytham's Book Reviews: 16 April 2021
John's three book picks for the week.
Read More
Muizenberg day service centre opens for homeless, offers counselling and meals
The Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) has partnered with NPO U-Turn to offer a space for homeless people to receive support.
Read More
How special operation fixed Capetonian Simone Blanckenberg's lymphedema
Pippa Hudson chats to Simone Blanckenberg and Dr Laura Redman about their journey in tackling this condition.
Read More
Give your child the best education you can afford – here’s how to invest
Personal finance advisor Warren Ingram on how to save and invest for your child’s future education.
Read More
'Seven in ten South Africans spend all their income or more every single month'
The latest Deloitte consumer survey shows we are more worried about our finances than Covid, says Mike Vincent (senior partner).
Read More
'Couple opened Pandora's Box by inviting sperm donor into the life of child'
Sperm donor is fighting for access to his biological child after parents changed their mind, says his attorney Shani van Niekerk.
Read More
Taking probiotics and no prebiotics may be a waste as stomach acid kills them
With Ryan McFadyen Co-founder and Head of Strategy at Have You Heard explains.
Read More
[VIDEO] 'The One' is largest house built in the urban world - and most expensive
Until now no video cameras have been allowed to film inside 105,000 square feet home.
Read More
How to register your domestic worker for COIDA
CapeTalk presenter Pippa Hudson shares the step-by-step process to ensure employees comply with the registration process.
Read More