Parent to Parent: Stress

WSVN--Good grades, peer pressure, standardized tests...

For best friends Katie Waldman and Devin Londos, being a teenager isn't always easy.

Katie Waldman: "When I think about tests I pretty much freak out. They're really hard especially math."

Devin Londos: "Eighth grade is like the hardest year so far because they are preparing us for high school."

And kids aren't just feeling the heat from school, but from TV shows and their home life.

Katie Waldman: "There's a lot of stress, just not even school, like life and your parents."

Devin Londos: "I get stressed out when my parents are always putting pressure on me."

Lynn Martinez: "Just like adults, stress for kids and teens can lead to headaches, stomach aches, ulcers, or even worse. But you can help your child handle the pressure."

Dr. Sally Goldberg: "Kids handle stress exactly like adults do. One of the best cures for kids is to break down their responsibilities into smaller tasks.

Help your child focus on one subject or project at a time by creating a schedule.

Dr. Sally: "Scheduling homework, scheduling meals, scheduling places to go, all those things things help the children get done, what they need to get done."

Plus this will help avoid procrastination, which can also lead to stress.

Then when they're at home, put a time limit on video games, TV and computer time.

And make sure your child doesn't have too many extracurricular activities.

Dr. Sally: "A big cause of stress is running out of time. Children seem to have so much to do and not enough time to do it."

Also stay connected with your child.

Try to talk to them about what's going on everyday. And make sure to discuss critical issues like drugs, sex, alcohol, and tobacco.

Dr. Sally: "Show them or tell them about examples of real people who have been harmed by their use."

As for standardized tests, help your child study or if they need extra help, hire a tutor.

But dr. Sally says the most important part of any test is the ability to believe in yourself.

Dr. Sally: "Self confidence building is something that you can do everyday all the time with your child."

Devin and Katie are working off their stress by just hanging out together.

They're hoping for big things in their future.

Devin Londos: I've been trying harder now. I should to better this tri-mester."

Katie Waldman: "I think I am just going to try to work harder and try not to procrastinate as much, and if I do that maybe my grades will even increase."

Lynn Martinez: "Dr. Sally also says a good stress reliever is exercise, so make sure your child does it daily if possible."