08/06/2026
Stress is a normal part of life, even for children. What matters most is how they experience it and whether they have supportive relationships to help them through it.
Research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child explains that not all stress is harmful. In fact, positive stress, like starting school or trying something new, can help children build resilience when caring adults are there to provide support. More intense challenges can also be managed when children have consistent, responsive relationships to help them feel safe. Itβs prolonged, severe stress without that support that may affect healthy brain development over time.
Supportive relationships, predictable routines, opportunities for play and movement, and responsive caregiving all help children build the skills they need to navigate life's challenges.
Helping children doesn't mean removing every obstacle, it means helping them build the confidence and resilience to face them.
Source: Harvard Center on the Developing Child. Read the full article, link in comments.