Parenting Today
Heavy course loads, test anxiety, fear of failure, and striving for perfect grades are some of the factors that contribute to the academic pressure that kids face today.
Add peer pressure, self-esteem issues, the drive for extracurricular success, and the desire to fit in, and it’s easy to understand why so many kids feel overwhelmed and battle depression and anxiety.
So, how can you tell if your child is struggling with academic pressure, and how can you, as a parent, support them, help them relieve academic stress, and bolster their mental health?
What Kinds of Pressure Do Kids Experience?
In Harvard Graduate School of Education, Common Sense Media, Center for Digital Thriving, and Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s 2024 report, “Unpacking Grind Culture in American Teens: Pressure, Burnout, and the Role of Social Media,” teen survey respondents aged 13-17 identified different types of pressure they face.
Over half reported pressure in three categories: game plan (56%), achievement (53%), and appearance (51%).
Game plan is pressure to have their future completely mapped out (such as college, career, and relationships). Achievement pressure is the need to be exceptional in academic and other achievements.
Striving to achieve is a good thing. However, award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times best-seller, “Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It,” Breheny Wallace explains to Phys.org, “Where achievement becomes toxic is when we tangle up our entire sense of self and value with our achievements. When you have to achieve in order to matter.”
Identifying Signs of Academic Pressure
Managing toxic levels of academic or achievement pressure can negatively impact a child’s mental health and cause stress, anxiety, and depression.
In a Journal of Affective Disorders research review, 48 studies found a positive association between academic pressure and at least one mental health outcome.
The World Health Organization also notes that one in seven 10-19-year-olds worldwide experience a mental disorder, and “depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.”
Recognizing that your child is suffering from academic pressure is an essential first step in helping them relieve it.
Mental Health Center Kids Co-founder and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Michael Vallejo lists these signs of excessive academic pressure:
- Anxiety
- Extreme competitiveness
- Obsession with grades
- Constantly working
- Difficulty sleeping
- Appetite changes
- Can’t relax
- Won’t socialize
- Losing interest in enjoyable activities
- Abusing stimulants like caffeine or prescription meds
Tips to Help Relieve Your Child’s Academic Pressure and Stress
Fortunately, you can help relieve or prevent your child’s academic pressure and stress.
Breheny Wallace advises parents to make their home a pressure-free zone. She says, “They are hearing messages day in and day out that they have to strive; they have to do better; and that they’re only as good as their next accomplishment. So, home needs to be a haven from that pressure, where our kids can recover, and where their value is never in question.”
Wallace also quoted resilience researcher Suniya Luthar, “‘Minimize criticism. Prioritize affection.’ Find ways to let your kids know that they matter, separate from their achievements.”
Oxford Learning shares the following stress-busting tips.
Don’t Over-Schedule
If your child is struggling to balance school, homework, and extracurricular activities, don’t pack more into their schedule. Make sure to build in free time for kids to do things they enjoy so they can de-stress and recharge.
Help Your Child Prioritize Tasks
People of all ages struggle with time management. Help your child rank their responsibilities and show them how to prioritize completing the most important tasks first and manage their time more effectively.
Help Your Child Stay Organized
Disorganization can increase academic stress. Help your child create a system to keep assignments, due dates, class materials, and important event dates organized in a planner, smartphone notepad, or notebook.
Stick to a Bedtime Routine
Getting enough sleep is crucial for a child’s physical and mental well-being. Following a bedtime routine sets a time to stop schoolwork, relax, and recharge their brain.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day for kids 3 to 5 years old, 9 to 12 hours for children 6 to 12 years of age, and 8 to 10 hours for teens 13 to 18 years of age.
Set Achievable Goals and Celebrate Efforts
Setting unrealistic, high expectations about grades and achievements can amp up your child’s pressure. So, don’t demand or expect academic perfection.
Instead, set realistic, achievable goals that focus less on perfect grades and more on learning outcomes. Also, celebrate and acknowledge their efforts, along with a nice result.
Keep Communication Open
Keeping communication lines open can help your child express the academic pressure and stress they feel. Encourage them to talk to you about any issues and ask questions if they are struggling.
Also, discuss your child’s academic stress with their teachers and seek ways to work together to reduce pressure and enhance learning. You can also seek help from a therapist or counselor.
Following these strategies can relieve your child’s academic pressure and help promote good mental health.
