The Childhood Pressure Cooker

Are you pushing your kids so hard they’re in danger of cracking under the pressure? Take a serious look at the demands you’re placing on them and help overstressed, overscheduled, overwhelmed kids create happier, healthier, more balanced lives

Any parent with a child out of elementary school knows that we live in an achievement-obsessed, ultra-competitive education culture. From government-mandated standardized test scores to “tiger parents,” to college admissions requirements, our kids are facing immense pressure to perform.

For many students, every minute of the day is devoted to school, studying, homework, and other “necessary” activities ranging from sports to service work—to the exclusion of free time and fun. There’s a great deal of fear from parents that their kids just won’t be able to compete…and kids themselves are at risk of being overwhelmed by what’s expected of them.

Words by Dottie DeHart

To read the whole story, grab a copy of BC Magazine's October 2011. For more information, call 478-4172 or email info@bcmedia.ph.