Are We Pressuring Our Kids to Succeed?

The other day, I received an automated telephone call from my son’s school. I am thankful for these calls because most of these calls are lifesavers. They normally inform me of some event, that my son has not told me about.. But at 9pm when he is stalling for to go to bed, he will have an epiphany that he needs cupcakes, valentine day bags, or something that requires me to go to the store with my superhero cap flapping in the wind rushing the save the day. So, these automated calls have become my loving reminders to check his back pack or the school website for something amazing that is happening at his school or the district. I was surprised to hear that the school was offering a Computer Coding class. At first thought, I marveled at the idea of my son the computer coding kid-genius. But then I was slightly saddened. Saddened because the days of our children being kids have long gone. The days where children were expected to go to school, play on the monkey bars, and struggle with long division are now gone. Now, our children are being exposed to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M), Multi-Language Academies, Fine Arts Magnet Education (F.A.M.E.) and being groomed to think globally in International Baccalaureate Programs.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I completely understand the purpose of exposing your child to these things at an early age. Nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder, are putting too much pressure of these babies? Are we breeding children that are being groomed for an increase in anxiety and depression because they have to perform in these enriched academic programs? Of course, a one time Coding Class isn’t going to break a child, however, it will open a door and help determine if that is something that you child is interested in. I guess, that is the purpose to exposure at an early age. I will allow a child direction and help adults identify their passions at a young age. Imagine, that you were groomed to do something that you had interest in at an early age. Imagine if your teachers saw that you were gifted at numbers, reading, or writing in the third grade and nurtured those skills. I believe, there would be a lot more adult operating in their gifts and having jobs or business that fall in line with their God-given talents and purpose. With that idea in mind, exposure to an enriched academic program at a young age isn’t all that bad, after all.