Are we killing our children with stress?

Question

Kids today are put through exam after exam, comparison after comparison, hurdle after hurdle. This starts at a very early age with tests.

I've noticed now, how many kids are actually on medication for stress. How many kids are depressed in their teen years? All these goths and emos who feel they need to take on the emotional burden of an adult without the life experience to compare it with.

So is life more stressful for kids now? Or is it just as it has always been?

Is there a solution?

Answer 1

This stress you refer to is a needed thing to prepare them for the undue hardships about to come. If you cannot prepare their mindset at a young age they will be failers and pansies all their life looking for emotional cop-outs and under achievers.

I seriously don't think you want that for your children do you? Home work and lots of it never killed anyone. And if your one of those light handed parents that want to float on the breeze of life, wow i pity you and yours.

Answer 2

You have to look at how life has changed in the past decade. Social situations have come out into the open more so now then ever before. Divorce rates have increased dramatically, suicide rates have increased, unemployment, etc., etc. There is more stress in the world and yes, this affects our children as well. Children pick up on adult emotions, especially the negative and they often try to ease this pain. Unfortunately, the stress this puts on our children is detrimental. A solution? Stress is everywhere and you cannot get away from it. However, awareness is key. It's important to teach children positive problem solving skills and how to deal emotionally with stressful events. We need to be open and talk with children. This involves working together as a community, which sadly, doesn't seem to be happening in many areas. Doctors, teachers, neighbors, friends, etc. must all be aware. They say children are our future so we must do our best to help them cope in more positive ways. All stress is not bad. There is positive stress. Helping children work through lifes situations and letting them know that struggles will always be there instead of covering up and "faking" that life is always a happy place will do wonders for them learning to deal and cope effectively with situations.

Answer 3

My daughter nearly died before xmas as she suddenly starting vomiting blood and lost so much, her organs started shutting down. The doctors found 3 stomach ulcers, she's 15!! They put it down to stress, she has so much coursework that she's up till nearly midnight every night trying to fit it all in as well as keep up with her dance classes, vital as she's not particularly academic and has passed an audition to do musical theatre at college. I think it's fine for the kids who are bright but for the kids that are average at best they find it so hard, i try to help her pace herself and make sure she eats healthily and gets as much sleep as she can but she isn't the only one in her circle of friends that is finding life really hard at the moment. I work full time as most mums do these days and it's hard to fit everything in so i know it's a good lesson in life, however, i don't remember being as stressed at her age than her and her friends are now and i was brought up by my father who worked full time and brought up two kids so i had to help around the house a lot more, my daughter just wouldn't have the time to do what i had to at her age.

Answer 4

Well, I am still in highschool, and I get tests day after day. But, I think that this is excellent for preparing me for college next year and getting into the real world. You're right, kids need to have fun, but they also have to work. "Time for work, time for play." It's all about time management! And for the kids who are going all "emo" and "goth" just haven't been through any type of stress that they are about to go through. Parents have done everything for them (at least that's what I've seen!).

Answer 5

Naw, this generation's just whinier. lol.
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no, i actually think the increased depression rates of teens today are because people are learning (thru science and such) how to fix more and more problems we used to think were unsolvable - now people, especially kids i guess, since they have less experience - think all problems have solutions instead of just getting used to them. i guess that would fall under lack of positive endowment... it's the same reason people appreciate products more if they can't refund them. (which is a fact, btw)

Answer 6

Could be. Everybody is pushing their children to hard.
Let the children be children, after all childhood is often over too quick. Some people at uni look back on their childhood and all they remember is being forced to study,
I say give kids a break.

Answer 7

kids need a break. and homework is the stupidiest thing I've ever heard of- most jobs don't give you work to take home. it doesn't prepare them for the real world

Answer 8

the testing really isnt that stressful neglect at home with parents being so busy with other things. thats stressful.

Answer 9

read "Affluenza" by Oliver James.

Tells you what the problems are with modern life and how to "innoculate" yourself against them. Great book.

Answer 10

I always thought my kids were killing me with the stress......