Deck 7: Helping Children Cope With Stress

Question 1

Which of the following often triggers stress?

A) an expected change
B) a threat to our psychological well being
C) periods of undirected play
D) a confirmation of our abilities

Answer 1

a threat to our psychological well being

Question 2

Which is an accurate statement about stress?

A) It can damage developing brain structures in early childhood.
B) It rarely leads to lifelong problems in learning.
C) It affects psychological instead of physical well-being.
D) It is, in and of itself, a negative influence.

Answer 2

It can damage developing brain structures in early childhood.

Question 3

Which age group has the least resistance to stress?

A) infants
B) toddlers
C) preschoolers
D) kindergartners

Answer 3

infants

Question 4

Jerome feels stress when his parents argue. Considering this, which is most likely to happen to his body?

A) His heart rate will remain constant.
B) His brain will release hormones that make him relax.
C) He will begin to breathe easily and rhythmically.
D) His bodily functions will be put on hold as he deals with the stress.

Question 5

Which statement about stress is true?

A) It causes fear but rarely causes anger.
B) The body continues to function normally.
C) The body's priorities change slightly.
D) Emotional responses involve physical changes.

Question 6

Which is an example of a using coping strategy to deal with stress?

A) Jerry turns down the stove when a pot of water begins to boil.
B) Charlotte smiles when she eats a piece of chocolate cake.
C) Nicholas represses his anger when someone insults him.
D) Karen does not realize that a friend gave her a subtle insult.

Question 7

Four-year-old Tommy calls four-year-old Matt an insulting name. Which coping strategy by Matt would be the least socially acceptable?

A) Matt tells his teacher about it.
B) Matt punches Tommy.
C) Matt tells Tommy that he is mean.
D) Matt begins to cry.

Question 8

Which example most likely shows someone responding to stress in a positive way?

A) Addison earns a high grade on the test she had been worried about.
B) Jayden kicks a door when he realizes he forgot a textbook at home.
C) Alex yells when he finds out a friend is transferring to another school.
D) Joshua teases his brother after his mother scolds him for failing to clean his room.

Question 9

The exosystem includes which of the following?

A) a school friend of a child
B) an uncle of a child
C) a mother's boss at her job
D) a government policy

Question 10

A father has a meeting with his daughter's teacher. This example is part of the ______.

A) microsystem
B) exosystem
C) macrosystem
D) mesosystem

Question 11

Which example shows the macrosystem?

A) a child's nanny
B) a parent-teacher association
C) a value held by the middle class
D) a mother's sister

Question 12

Which of the following is an accurate statement concerning stress?

A) The macrosystem is too distant to cause children stress.
B) Most stressors for young children come from the microsystem and mesosystem.
C) The exosystem has more stressors for children than the microsystem.
D) Most stressors for young children originate in the exosystem.

Question 13

Which is a common reaction of children to divorce?

A) They see it as punishment for doing something wrong.
B) They blame the father for the problem.
C) They blame their teacher for the problem.
D) They see it as an act of God.

Question 14

Which statement about divorce is true?

A) Most children easily overcome the stress caused by divorce.
B) Although divorce is stressful, most children deal with the stress before they reach adulthood.
C) Children often feel little stress during an ongoing divorce.
D) Divorce often has an intense, long-lasting effect on children.

Question 15

Which change do many children have to deal with after a divorce?

A) spending fewer hours in child care
B) living in less-expensive housing
C) having more resources
D) living with the custodial father

Question 16

Which situation is most likely to happen after a divorce?

A) Five-year-old Juan spends less time in child care per week.
B) Four-year-old Monica moves from living with both parents to living with a grandparent.
C) Six-year-old Dylan moves from a two-bedroom house to a four-bedroom apartment.
D) Ava feels relieved about the change in her parents' relationship.

Question 17

According to an National Center for Children in Poverty report from 2018, how many American children under the age of six live in a poor family?

A) 5 percent
B) 21 percent
C) 43 percent
D) 60 percent

Question 18

Which child would most likely experience hunger?

A) Matias has no home and wanders with his mother from place to place.
B) Isabella stays with her mother for 9 months and with her father for 3 months each year.
C) Sebastian lives in a small apartment with his father.
D) Valeria lives with both parents in a trailer home near an industrial park.

Question 19

Six-year-old Ella's father is the head of an accounting firm, and her mother is a top marketing executive. Both parents spend long hours at work and take frequent business trips. Considering this, Ella most likely deals with stress from ______.

A) physical abuse
B) parental substance abuse
C) adjusting to a new culture
D) a fast-paced lifestyle

Question 20

Experts estimate that the actual number of abuse and neglect incidents is ______ those reported.

A) significantly greater than
B) slightly greater than
C) slightly less than
D) significantly less than

Question 21

Child ______ includes any act that deliberately or potentially harms or fails to protect a child.

A) stressors
B) maltreatment
C) exploitation
D) abandonment

Question 22

A bully at school often beats 5-year-old Carlos. Based on this information, Carlos is a victim of ______ abuse.

A) physical
B) sexual
C) abandonment
D) substance

Question 23

Which is an example of sexual abuse?

A) Six-year-old Mason's mother constantly criticizes her son even when he doesn't do anything wrong.
B) Five-year-old Samuel's father often shakes him until the boy is dizzy.
C) Seven-year-old Ethan's mother often appears naked before him.
D) Four-year-old Archie's father fails to make sure his son brushes his teeth.

Question 24

Mia's mother died when she was four, and her father permanently left the family the following year. The father's action is an example of ______.

A) bereavement
B) physical abuse
C) abandonment
D) sexual abuse

Question 25

Which is an example of substance abuse?

A) When Ingrid talks back to her father, he slaps her hard on the face.
B) Five-year-old Linnea's mother constantly screams at her.
C) Although Liam is three years old, his parents leave him alone for hours at a time.
D) Tobias's father drinks liquor to excess, which makes him incapable of taking care of his son.

Question 26

Which type of abuse is especially difficult to read?

A) emotional
B) physical
C) sexual
D) substance

Question 27

Which of the following is the most difficult concept for preschoolers to grasp about death?

A) Death can be caused by an accident.
B) Death can be caused by old age.
C) Death involves a stopping of breathing.
D) Death comes to all things that live.

Question 28

Six-year-old John has a general sense of uneasiness, and he doesn't know why. John is most likely dealing with ______.

A) anxiety
B) a phobia
C) an obsession
D) fixation

Question 29

Which of the following is an accurate statement concerning community violence?

A) Less than half of the violent acts in the United States involve guns.
B) The United States has about the same amount of gun-related violence as other affluent nations.
C) A mass shooting that a child hears about causes little stress for the child.
D) During recent years, mass shootings have significantly increased.

Question 30

Which example demonstrates the best way to deal with a child who worries about natural disasters?

A) Roberta's teacher tells her not to worry about tornados because her parents are insured.
B) Debbie's teacher tells her that earthquakes are an infrequent occurrence.
C) Thomas's teacher assures him that a hurricane will not prevent his parents from caring for him.
D) Kevin's teacher assures him that wildfires are not worth worrying about.

Question 31

"Save the Children" estimates that over the next decade up to ______ children will be affected by disasters caused by climate change.

A) 5 million
B) 25 million
C) 90 million
D) 175 million

Question 32

Which of the following is a common characteristic of resilient children?

A) negative expectations
B) high sensory awareness
C) a strong focus on one's weaknesses
D) highly disciplined parents

Question 33

Which of the following statements about resilient children is accurate?

A) They tend to be good-natured infants.
B) They often are precocious, triggering negative responses from adults.
C) They have a close bond with at least two caregivers.
D) They tend to play alone.

Question 34

Sophia is a highly resilient child whose parents divorced when she was six years old. Considering this, which of the following would most likely happen?

A) As an adult, she will have a strong fear about losing control.
B) She will remain single throughout her life and never have an intimate relationship with anyone.
C) She will develop a loving relationship with a romantic partner when she is 25.
D) As an adult, she will divorce three times but have some close relationships with women.

Question 35

Five-year-old Naomi went through a stressful time when a hurricane destroyed her home and killed one of her parents. At school, she forms a close bond with a supportive teacher, who helps her deal with the loss. Considering this, Naomi is probably a(n) ______.

A) child with a severe neurosis
B) resilient child
C) child that denies death
D) anti-social child

Question 36

Which example most likely shows a resilient child?

A) Isabella feels she cannot do math well, even though her test scores show a strong aptitude for math.
B) Julian rarely laughs at any of the jokes made by the teacher or other students.
C) Violet has to be given a lot of encouragement to participate in a group activity.
D) Joshua loves taking part in new activities that provide a challenge.

Question 37

Which is usually true about resilient children?

A) They have highly critical parents.
B) They have difficulty focusing on play activities.
C) They expect themselves to do well.
D) They are highly dependent on the teacher.

Question 38

Resilient children often ______.

A) have emotionally supportive parents.
B) have low sensory awareness
C) lack confidence about completing tasks
D) show little need for affection

Question 39

Which statement would a resilient child most likely say about herself?

A) "I'm really good at solving puzzle games."
B) "The teacher doesn't really care about me."
C) "Maybe I shouldn't volunteer for this activity because I might fail."
D) "I hope the teacher doesn't call on me for an answer."

Question 40

Which characteristic of an early childhood program will help a child deal with stress?

A) highly demanding teachers
B) appropriately paced challenges
C) unpredictable curriculum
D) boring exercises

Question 41

To help students deal with stress about the unknown, a teacher should provide a(n) ______.

A) safe and predictable school environment
B) challenging and unpredictable school environment
C) environment where questions are discouraged
D) environment where the child has little feedback

Question 42

Which example would help a child deal with fears about the unknown?

A) A teacher provides little guidance for group activities.
B) A teacher often rearranges the schedule to keep students on their toes.
C) A teacher lets a student know how much her contribution to an activity was beneficial.
D) A teacher provides little encouragement to a gifted child to prevent her from becoming conceited.

Question 43

Which statement would most likely help a child deal with stress about an assignment?

A) "You are holding the colored pencil wrong."
B) "You can gain more control of colored pencils by holding them lower."
C) "Your drawing is sloppy."
D) "You need to practice more with these pencils."

Question 44

Which of the following choice-making techniques would most likely lower stress for a young child?

A) Give children choices that are several levels above their current skill set.
B) Tell children how important it is to make the right choice.
C) Let children make choices without discussing the options first.
D) Make it non-threatening for children to act on their choices.

Question 45

Bibliotherapy is the use of ______ that deal with emotionally sensitive topics in a developmentally appropriate way and thereby helps children gain accurate information and learn coping strategies.

A) films
B) books
C) images
D) role play

Question 46

Which of the following is a reason why bibliotherapy helps children deal with stress?

A) Children avoid dealing directly with a problem and instead deal with it using books.
B) Children learn there is no definite solution to the stress they are experiencing.
C) Children identify with a character in a book who has a problem similar to their own.
D) Children understand that the world tends to be a frightening place.

Question 47

By listening to her teacher read Goodbye Mouse, 4-year-old Linda finds a nonthreatening way to deal with death. This activity provides Linda with ______.

A) comfort
B) mutuality
C) empathy
D) options for action

Question 48

Which example shows how a book can help a child to empathize?

A) By reading a book, Leslie realizes how an African child feels when a fierce storm hits.
B) Bryan learns that countries with different cultures have beautiful qualities by reading a book.
C) By reading a story, Connie encounters a new way to deal with a bully.
D) Mitch finds out that many other people fear thunderstorms by reading a story.

Question 49

The teacher asks a child to picture a stream as she reads a poem that describes a stream. This example shows a technique called ______.

A) pretending
B) play therapy
C) progressive relaxation
D) imagery

Question 50

Which of the following is an accurate statement about young children using play to deal with stress?

A) It helps children to contain their emotions.
B) It allows children to relive and process scary experiences.
C) It makes reality more of a frightening place.
D) It allows children to experience unfamiliar worlds through imagination.

Question 51

A teacher tells parents how long it might take for a child to grieve the loss of a pet. According to Gestwicki, what aspect of dealing with a stressed family is the teacher fulfilling?

A) being aware of your own attitudes
B) keeping requests light
C) reassuring parents
D) knowing community resources

Question 52

Which example shows a teacher keeping a request to parents light?

A) The teacher requests that a single mother make soup for a group of 100 children.
B) The teacher asks parents to help their seven-year-old child work out math problems.
C) The teacher requests that a mother read five books about child development.
D) The teacher asks a father to stop working overtime to spend more time with a child.

Question 53

When a teacher hears parents criticize their child, the teacher is reminded of the harm her own parents did to her by being hypercritical. According to Gestwicki, what aspect of handling a stressed family is the teacher dealing with?

A) being aware of your own feelings
B) keeping requests light
C) reassuring the parents
D) knowing about community support

Question 54

Which example most likely shows a stressed family that is in trouble?

A) Parents try to talk matters out with a child instead of threatening punishment.
B) Parents willingly accept help from a teacher in dealing with an unruly child.
C) Parents forget a child's winter coat when it is 20 degrees outside.
D) Parents focus on their child's low grades in spite of their own problems.

Question 55

Which is most likely an example of a troubled family?

A) Parents consistently provide what their child needs for school, including lunch and appropriate clothes.
B) During a meeting with a teacher, a single father talks about how his son has dealt with a divorce.
C) Parents begin to attend a support group that a teacher recommended.
D) During a meeting with a teacher, a single mother constantly talks about her work problems.

Question 56

Which of the following accurately compares a family coping well with a troubled family?

A) The coping family is patient with their child; the stressed family gets defensive when offered help.
B) The coping family seems organized; the stressed family describes their child's study habits.
C) The coping family talks about their own problems in a teacher-parent meeting; the stressed family constantly criticizes their child.
D) The coping family often doubts their parenting ability; the stressed family is verbally hostile when talking about their child.

Question 57

Which of the following is a recommended way for a teacher to help a stressed family?

A) Separate a child from its family.
B) Make the family attend a support group.
C) Make light requests of parents.
D) Act as legal counsel for parents.

Question 58

Which are three key elements for teachers to do when dealing with parents?

A) Make referrals to community resources; encourage parents; be aware of custody battles.
B) Make demanding requests of parents; harshly criticize parents; ignore a family's legal situation.
C) Make referrals to community resources; harshly criticize parents; be aware of custody battles.
D) Make demanding requests of parents; encourage parents; ignore a family's legal situation.

Question 59

Which characteristic shows a family in trouble?

A) confidence in parenting ability
B) a family that is in counseling after a divorce
C) organized behavior
D) inability to accept help

Question 60

According to Hans Selye, stress is any demand on our ability to adapt.

Question 61

Stress is considered to be always a negative force.

Question 62

Stress is as much a physical as an emotional phenomenon.

Question 63

The microsystem includes family, friends, school, and extended family.

Question 64

Even though living in poverty has little effect on young children's cognitive development, poor children are still likely to have behavioral and social problems.

Question 65

Young children are particularly vulnerable to abuse because they are inexperienced and depend on adults to care for their needs.

Question 66

Abandonment is a natural process, an essential reaction to loss, which needs to be worked out and supported.

Question 67

Anxiety is intense and irrational, and it stems directly from a specific event, such as a thunderstorm.

Question 68

Natural disasters can cause enormous stress in young children and cause them to have real or imagined fears.

Question 69

Children who seem to be able to deal effectively with vulnerabilities are called resilient children.

Question 70

Resilient children rarely recruit surrogate parents.

Question 71

Resilient children seem to have a strong sense of independence and sociability, which should be valued and encouraged.

Question 72

Early childhood educators have the opportunity to change the source of most of the stressors that children face.

Question 73

Encouraging students to ask questions will help them deal with stress in their lives.

Question 74

Progressive relaxation asks children to tense and then relax various specified muscle groups.

Question 75

Progressive relaxation helps children to cope with stressors by reliving past experiences and expressing subjective feelings.

Question 76

Early childhood programs can function as important family support systems for parents of young children.

Question 77

Teachers should refer stressed parents to support groups only as a last resort.

Question 78

If you believe a parent is temporarily unable to cope, you should avoid discussing your concerns with other teachers who interact with the parent.

Question 79

Parents who are confused about how to handle their child probably are being overwhelmed with stress.

Question 80

How does stress affect one's emotions and body?