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Why it is important to teach your children that overworking isn’t cool

Teach your children overworking is not equal to hard work: They should focus on productivity, not on working hours


Kids are overworked, and with homework, academics, examinations and test anxiety, as well as after-school activities, they can become extremely stressed. It is a known fact that chronic stress is terrible for adults, but it’s especially harmful to kids since it can produce long-term difficulties with sophisticated thinking and memory abilities, attention, learning, and behaviour, among other things. Any kind of reaction, physical, chemical or emotional, can put children into depression.

When confronted with a complex circumstance, children might get depressed. Overworking is ingrained in our culture. We frequently feel guilty for taking breaks. In fact, the idea of overworking is planted in our minds right from the beginning. Here is why it is important to teach your children that overworking isn’t cool. It doesn’t guarantee desired results. In fact, one should be focused on bringing out the best by putting in efforts but not by burning out themselves in the process.

Why it is important to teach your children that overworking isn't cool

Signs That Your Kids Are Overworked And Stressed:

  1. A shift in behaviour: If your youngster is becoming increasingly angry or pessimistic about themselves, their life, and their schoolwork.
  2. Sleeping problems start at an early age.
  3. Children started stress eating or under-eating.
  4. Children that are feeling insecure or have a lot on their minds may miss toileting cues. Reassure your child that you are not angry when he has an accident.
  5. Sometimes, the pressure to please parents causes children to be perfectionists and worry constantly. Build your child’s confidence so he can meet challenges and solve problems on his own.
  6. Sleep-related fear is a common response to stressful or traumatic experiences. Telling your child stories about other kids with feelings just like theirs can help them feel better. It lets them know that you understand their feelings.

Read More: Key Eye Care Tips for Driving in the Rain

Why it is important to teach your children that overworking isn't cool

Common coping

Common coping strategies were divided into five categories: problem-solving; emotional suppression; cognitive reappraisal; distraction, and avoidance. Parents must use these tips to minimize stress in children.

  1. Make time to listen to your child and let them share with you the stresses and challenges they are facing. No need to give any advice at first, just listen and let them share what they are struggling with.

2) Remind yourself and your child of the first rule of coping with stress: “Try to change the things you can change, and accept the things you cannot change.”

3) Think out loud with your child about how you have coped with similar situations in the past or how you might cope with the situation if you haven’t faced a similar stressor in the past.

4) Encourage your child to make a plan and then follow up in a day or two. If the first plan doesn’t seem to help, think it through together and try another plan until either the problem has changed or your child has been able to accept the problem and adapt to it.

Why it is important to teach your children that overworking isn't cool

5) Ensure that your child has time to play after school. This is especially important for young children who greatly benefit from playing. Limit organized activities so that your child is not scheduled every day and can play after school. If they have an activity every hour, then it doesn’t allow for playtime.

6) Parents should not schedule kids in multiple activities with the expectation of superior performance in all. They should also consider the child’s interests. If a child is not interested in one activity, then they are likely to feel stressed and pressured to do it.

7) Assess our schedule during the week to ensure that there’s always time for dinner with the family. Make it a point to establish a dinnertime schedule for the evenings that you do not have prior engagements scheduled.

8) Fifteen minutes before bed, encourage them to read or write in bed

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Jagisha Arora

MA in History and has worked as a freelance writer. She writes on issues of gender, caste and democracy.
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