When parents’ stress becomes a child’s burden

Résumé détaillé

In Bangladesh, examination season often turns homes into pressure cookers. As school finals and admission tests approach, children are not the only ones losing sleep.

In Bangladesh, examination season often turns homes into pressure cookers. As school finals and admission tests approach, children are not the only ones losing sleep. Parents, anxious about grades, competition and prestigious schools, may unknowingly pass their worries on to their children.

What begins as concern for a child’s future can gradually become a source of fear.

For many children, examinations no longer feel like opportunities to demonstrate learning. Instead, they become tests of whether they are good enough to earn parental approval.

Constant reminders to study, comparisons with classmates and disappointment over marks can quietly damage a child’s confidence. A child appearing lazy or distracted may actually be frightened, exhausted or overwhelmed.

Parents rarely intend to cause harm. Their anxiety often comes from genuine love and the belief that academic success guarantees a secure future. Yet good intentions do not always produce healthy outcomes.

The answer is not abandoning expectations but replacing pressure with encouragement.

A calm conversation can achieve more than repeated criticism. Balanced study schedules, regular breaks, adequate sleep, nutritious meals and time for recreation help children remain focused without feeling trapped.

Parents should also remember that admission to a renowned school does not guarantee happiness, confidence or future success. Similarly, disappointing examination results reveal areas needing support, not a child’s worth.

Most importantly, children must know that parental love is not conditional upon academic achievement.

Début de l'article, extrait de The Daily Star. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.