Kids under pressure to perform

Pressure to perform academically is petrifying young children so much that their mental health is slipping.

While matric related stress is well known, the stress primary school pupils are under is often overlooked.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) has seen an increasing number of young children accessing their helpline with concerns about school, family issues and trauma. Some are as young as nine.

“We have children from primary schools asking how to study, how to prepare for exams, how to deal with bullying,” said Sadag operations director Casey Chambers.

“They lack coping skills and they don’t know who to speak to when the pressure starts.

“Children are battling to be all rounders and their schedules are too busy.”

Clinical psychologist Liane Lurie said: “There is an overall expectation that you have to do well, especially for young children where your identity is very much honed on the approval that you get from your parents.”

Parents are more financially stressed and Lurie has picked up that youngsters feel they have to start supporting their mothers and fathers.

She is also seeing more children from as young as 10 struggling with eating disorders.

“We celebrate the kids with distinctions and we forget about the ones who have tried their absolute best.”

Chrizelda Kaalmeyer, a mother of three, says her seven-year-old has already set goals for himself and struggles when he does not succeed.

“Last year he did not get an award for maths and he insisted I send him for extra classes.

“He was in tears,” said Kaalmeyer.

She has never put pressure on him but believes the school environment is competitive.