Gena Ellis is a mother of three boys and a member of Battle Academy's PTA Board where her middle son, Samuel, is in the third grade.
He is involved in the schools art department, robotics team and Math and Science Olympics. Outside of school, he participates in tae kwon do.
It sounds like a lot, but for Samuel, it's not. While overscheduling can sometimes cause stress in children, experts say, exercise and socializing are keys to good mental health.
"I'm not making him do those things; those are things he chooses to do," Ellis said of her son. "He loves doing those things. His anxiety is reduced."
Many of today's elementary students do, however, experience heightened levels of stress and anxiety brought on by a variety of factors, experts say.
Some stress factors transcend generations, such as fears of losing best friends, moving, bad grades or coping with divorce. But this generation is also more technology driven than previous ones, said Patricia Russell, a guidance counselor at Bess T. Shepherd and Harrison elementary schools.
"There aren't as many social activities. This is more of a technology generation," she said. "Now, things happen at school, like conflicts, and they [children] don't know how to deal with them."
While video and computer games can provide a healthy balance, Russell said, they need to be played in moderation.
"It's good to be computer literate, but they should also learn social and coping skills as well," she said.
Social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, can cause stress for children. Words and situations that transpire on those sites can trickle into the real world said Karla Riddle, director of innovative programs for Hamilton County schools.
"It's so easy to post something hurtful online that has an impact in the real world," she said. "Kids may not understand the power of some words."
John Lee, a social worker in Chattanooga, said access to instant news can cause students anxiety.
"Kids aren't sheltered from much these days," he said. "They're more connected to the media and news. It's not uncommon for them to hear about things, like the recent school shooting in Ohio, and wonder if they're safe."
Lee is a social worker who recently relocated to Chattanooga after working for in Boston for 10 years.
"In Boston, they were worried about things like safety, gangs; and parents weren't comfortable letting their kids out to play," Lee said.
Parents can push their children into too many activities, Ellis said.
"I think it's well-intentioned," she said. "It's good for them to have goals, but sometimes they get too busy."
Parents and family dynamics can affect youth in a variety of ways. Sometimes, a parent's mood can be a catalyst for stress in a child.
"Children are smarter than we give them credit for," Ellis said. "We as adults have to be aware that children notice if something's not quite right. If they notice we're sad, it's their response to go out of their way to make us happy. That adds stress to them."
While medication is available, it's rarely prescribed, Lee said.
"When most children are treated, it's usually related to something else," he said. "Most kids don't go to the doctor just because they're stressed."
However, one medication will always be around to help kids deflate from stress - recess.
"Kids need time outside that's structured," Riddle said. "It gives them time to negotiate conflict as well as time to play. Kids need free time."