Children, Stress, and the Power of Stories

In recent months, many parents have come into the exam room asking some version of the same question: Could my child be affected by everything going on in the world right now? Sometimes, it’s even more direct: Could my child be affected by what our family is experiencing? The answer, in many cases, is yes. Even if they’re too young to follow headlines about political conflict, community tension, or global events, they are paying close attention to something else: the adults around them. Children, even the youngest ones, are quite observant and often use their “spidey senses” to pick up on the mood or emotional state of their parents. Changes in tone, heightened stress, and disruptions to routine rarely go unnoticed.

Instead, children absorb these cues, often without the words to make sense of them. In many cases, that stress shows up indirectly, through sleep disruptions, behavioral changes, increased clinginess, or emotional outbursts that seem disproportionate to the moment. It’s a quiet, persistent influence, and one we see frequently in our practice.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1 in 5 children ages 3–17 (21 percent) have been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition. And for many, those challenges begin early, as children’s developing brains respond to stress and the environments around them. Repeated stress, even when it’s indirect, can begin to shape how children process emotions, relationships, and safety.

For parents and caregivers, the question is often: How do we help children process what they cannot yet fully understand? One of the most effective tools is also one of the most accessible: reading together. A Calm Space in a Busy, Uncertain World

Shared reading creates a natural pause in a child’s day. Sitting down with a trusted adult, hearing a steady voice, and focusing on a story can help a child settle in ways that aren’t always possible during more direct conversations. This matters because young children rely on supportive relationships to help regulate their emotions. When a caregiver is calm and present, it signals safety.

Over time, these repeated interactions help children build their own capacity to manage stress. There is growing research behind this. In a study of hospitalized children, a single storytelling session was associated with increased oxytocin, a chemical often linked to bonding, and a measurable reduction in cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Even outside clinical settings, reading itself has been shown to significantly reduce stress levels, highlighting how quickly the body can shift into a more relaxed state.

Beyond the benefits of this special time for children, there are benefits to parents. Carving out a time for shared reading allows the parent to center themselves and to be present in the moment. Taking a deep breath after a stressful situation and retreating to a comfortable spot on the couch with a child and a book can help parents to exhale as well. In pediatrics, we talk about co-regulation, a process that happens when a parent calms themselves before calming their child with empathy, a steady voice, and responsiveness. In this setting, everyone wins.

Stories Help Children Make Sense of Big Feelings Children don’t always say, “I feel anxious” or “I’m overwhelmed.” More often, they act those feelings out. Books can help bridge that gap. Through stories, children encounter characters who feel nervous, excluded, uncertain, or afraid. Seeing those experiences reflected on the page gives children a way to recognize similar feelings in themselves, without the pressure of having to articulate them directly. It also creates natural opportunities for conversation. A simple observation, like “That seemed scary for the character,” can open the door to a child sharing their own thoughts.