- Monday 21 April 2025
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Wellbeing from a parent’s point of view – an opinion piece
I remember the day vividly. My daughter (Grade R at the time) was gifted a free netball lesson at a clinic. I bumped into another mom while looking on from the bench. She made a curious comment – I can’t remember her exact words, but she recommended that I enrol my daughter permanently, because, apparently, these lessons give the littlies an advantage when the coaches select the first team in Grade 1. I remember thinking: ‘Are you serious? This can’t be a thing.’
Fast forward six years .. it was a thing. The kids are under immense pressure. Pressure to make the team, pressure to do well academically, pressure to fit in socially. Add to that the pressure to be accepted into a local high school. Gone are the days of applying to your nearest high school as a formality as you know you will be accepted anyway.
In 2024 there were 3,000 Grade 8 applications for only 300 places at our local high school. This means that 90% of the applicants weren’t successful. For a child to be one of the lucky 300, they must perform well academically, take part in cultural activities, as well as participate in sports. It seems now that a place in the A netball team would be beneficial, wouldn’t it?
These kids must start building CVs from the day they start formal schooling. They have to show what they can offer a high school. They must participate in activities that they are not passionate about and maybe do not have a talent for. Their schedules are so packed, that they do not have time to just be. Pressure much?
Our kids have a lot on their plate. How can we help them with these constant feelings of being overwhelmed?
- Listen to them. Let them know that it is okay to feel stressed. I had to unenrol both my children from certain activities – the emotional toll was just not worth it.
- Guide them into accepting that there are things that they can control and things that they can’t control. To waste energy on things beyond your control is not helping anyone.
- Positive self-talk. Help them develop a positive internal dialogue by focusing on their strengths.
- Practice relaxation techniques. Deep breathing and mindfulness exercises are coping mechanisms that can help them when they feel under pressure or overwhelmed.
Am I the only parent who has picked up on this?