Children’s world has never faced such challenges. As a developing nation, our education system, policies, societal expectation are dynamic processes. The society as a whole has understood the importance of education. This is reflected in the number of schools. For example, in OMR we have scores of schools following all patterns.
Unfortunately, holding education as only a tool for financial improvement, has a dark side too. Too much of importance has been placed on the exam marks, regular academic performance and excellence in the class. All these changes were not slow or incremental that facilitated normal adaptation process. These changes were fast and often within a single academic year.
Today’s kid face too many exams, four State/National level board exams before the age of Sixteen. The parents who often live their life through their children fail to provide the comforts that themselves enjoyed as children. Some examples that today’s children face include,
- Too much of Junk information from several sources including Internet and social media
- Too much of entertainment resources
- Dwindling physical activities
- Change from traditional sources of knowledge such as books, magazine to online information.
- Changing Exam patterns and learning methodologies
The current society that has put too much reliance on marks and academic performance. In the process, the fine difference of knowledge and intelligence is lost.
What is difference between Knowledge and Intelligence?
Knowledge refers to a set of any skills or information that a child has acquired through experience in any form – mostly through school. While Intelligence is the ability to apply this knowledge gained.
What does Exam measure?
Today’s exams are a measure of knowledge and not intelligence, where as to be successful in the 21st century, one would need to be intelligent.
How does Children’s mental health get affected by Academic expectation?
When the academic expectations of child, teachers and parents fail to meet the ability, there is a stress created. This academic stress evolves to a distress. This evolves from anticipated academic challenges or a resultant failure or even the thought of the child not meeting the parents/teacher’s expectation. Every school-related contexts – such as tests, grades, studying, self-imposed need to succeed, as well as that induced by parents or society are the main stressors. In classrooms teachers attempt to cover all aspects of a vast syllabus, often disregarding the comprehension level of students.
The Average Indian child is expected to face his first board exams by age of 10 at fifth standard. This competition expands from the school-level to the state and even the national level. Such board exams are regular from 8th standard – around their teen age.
Impact of Academic Stress
The impact of academic stress is high. It could manifest as
- Loss of Self Esteem and confidence
- Loss of concentration
- Exam phobias
- A tendency to become isolated, away from family and friends
- Become extremely agitated or withdrawn or extremely rebellious.
- Lack of attention to grooming, physical exercise, nutrition and self-care
- Symptoms of depression
- High anxiety,
- Frequent school refusal,
- Unrelated physical complaints
- Irritability
- Weeping spells
- Decreased interest in school work
Aftermath
Globally, Anxiety as a psychiatric disorder is seen in about 8% of children and adolescents. A large proportion of them are undiagnosed due to several reasons. If not treated properly, it would have negative effects on children’s social, emotional and academic success
Depression is evolving as a common mental health problem in teenage often as a result of poor social problem-solving, cognitive distortions and family conflict as well as with alienation from parents and peers, helpless attribution style, gender, and perceived criticism from teachers.
Suicidal tendency, as a result of academic pressure is not new.
So what to do?
Understanding the child is the key to their mental health wellbeing. As a parent, it is our sacred duty to protect, nourish and celebrate the child’s younger age. While it’s the parent’s responsibility to cater and to educate the children, it should be done with proper care. All conventional wisdom and parenting skills are useful but at, certain times they may fail. At this point of time seeking a mental health professional may be extremely helpful
Help available
OMR based Psychiatrist, Dr. A M. Anusa would connect to the child and the parents, in an attempt to bridge the understanding of expectation and reality. Customization of parenting skills, learning methods, communication skill and approach to exams using time tested behavioral modification and psychological approach may provide desired effects. In certain extreme situations, use of medications would be of help.