Is there too much pressure on kids these days?

Somehow or other, oldest is nearing the conclude of his very first 12 months at secondary school. He’s completed surprisingly well and we’re truly proud of him. He and I are really related, so I just can’t help but look at his encounters with my own at that age.

Fortunately, he has not seasoned some of the points I did – like ‘shirts vs skins’ in PE lessons – but it feels like I however had an less complicated time of it. In fact, I’ve come to the summary that there is too considerably stress on little ones today. And this doesn’t just use to his age group – I’m basing it on his siblings’ ordeals at principal school way too.

Research is an clear spot. When the younger two do not have nearly anything moreover looking at and a maths app – a welcome adjust from how issues used to be at their university – oldest has masses. And noticeably much more than I did at his age. Some of it is so hard as properly – notably maths. He’s mastering stuff in 12 months 7 that I didn’t do right up until 12 months ten. The good thing is, he would seem to comprehend it – I cannot get my head all-around some issues even when I google the solutions!

The grading procedure has improved to quantities as an alternative of letters now – this confused the hell out of me at first, but it’s possible that’s anything to do with my organic affinity with English and deep-rooted anxiety of maths. In addition – sorry, accidental maths reference there – it appears to be that he is currently being graded at closing GCSE degree already.

It’s good to know that he’s doing perfectly – he’s now at a go in most topics, which is great for yr seven – but I do question whether or not this generates far too considerably pressure much too soon. I get that it can be motivational. I also consider I would have completed improved if I labored to conclusion grades earlier on. But in year seven? I’m not so positive. It is presently a massive step up from main university.

Talking of which, the ten-yr-outdated lately concluded a scholars programme by using school. He was invited to just take section so, certainly, we’re extremely very pleased. But the amount of do the job he experienced to do was unbelievably substantial. His ultimate assignment was a 1,000-phrase essay on visible narratives in vintage art. A tiny little bit substantially for that age, in my feeling – in particular as it is a specialized niche matter. I uncovered a large amount though trying to assist him with it, but there is no way I would have understood some of the principles when I was 10.

He also has a career of kinds at school. He’s just one of the Electronic Leaders, which implies he allows youthful kids with IT abilities. He has a photograph ID lanyard and anything. It is a nice contact but, again, it feels like earning it ‘official’ adds marginally much more tension than there wants to be.

In the meantime, youngest has the year a person phonics screening to look forward to this week. I do not doubt she’ll do quite effectively as she’s an accomplished reader, but is it genuinely essential to set six-yr-olds by a check? Specifically as the last two decades have been so abnormal and disruptive.

It just feels that children require to know a lot extra at substantially before ages these days. I do not blame colleges or academics for any of this – it goes right up to the so-identified as ‘top’. Ticking boxes is all very very well and sheds some mild on attainment stages, but it does not explain to the comprehensive story.

Some stress is great – no dad or mum wants their youngsters to grow up lazy and not attain their opportunity – but too a lot is counterproductive. Taking the pandemic into thought, pushing them much more could do a lot more harm than fantastic and produce a technology of nervous older people who are previous just before their time.

What do you think? Are children less than far too substantially strain in contrast to when you ended up young?