Written by: P. V. Ananthalakshmi Principal, Helikx Open School
I can remember my childhood days. At the age of 6 I went to a nearby school just across the road the school hours were from 10 to 4 p.m. From 4 to 6 pm play time with our friends. Dinner together with cousins then story time with elders then bed time. We used to get up by 6a.m cajoled by grandmother, and then the usual routine began. Our schools days were happy, stress-free and like a beautiful flower we grow naturally.
Today the scenario has completely changed. Both the parents are working and schooling begins from 2 years onwards. From LKG the child is sent to miles away from the home to get quality education from the so called international schools. Basically, parents over-schedule their children’s lives, push them hard for academic success, and anticipate them to perform and respond as miniature adults.
It is a set of stress-linked performances, which result when a child is expected by his parents to accomplish well beyond his or her level of intellectual, social or expressive competences.
Hurrying can lead to a wide range of childhood, teenage and adulthood crises. If children are offered the stresses of adulthood, they will also exhibit the ailments of adulthood. One of the effects of excessive expectations by parents is stress. Also, stress-induced psychological problems such as depression, not getting along with others, anxiety, crying, stuttering, and sleep issues can follow. The most common physical symptoms include stomach ache, diarrhoea, nervous twitches, headaches, hyperactivity, stammering, muscle tension and bed-wetting. The number of children and adolescents suffering from — one or more — stress-related symptoms has increased dramatically over the last two decades.
Most parents claim more from their children. They are concerned about the global economy and their children’s ability to compete in it. Other reasons are competition between parents, small families and overinvestment in each child etc. I think, in most cases, it is just a matter of necessity; parents need the children to take more responsibility than before when only one parent worked. It’s not wrong if the demands from the child are age-appropriate.
Other reasons are a result of current commerce. Those who merchandise to children these days understand that parents aren’t dictating them anymore about what to eat wear or watch. The commercial market is taking benefit of this fact, which in turn is affecting children.
The most significant thing is for parents to distinguish between their own needs from those of the child. They often confuse the two, and that is the single most common cause of hastening.
The main thing is to lookout the child carefully, and tries and understands the specific needs and abilities. If a child enjoys learning and extracurricular activities, that is great but if the child is stressed and resistant, it is time to back off and let him take his own time to learn as much as he can.
Reference: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/parenting.
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