https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcdhaMW_lg
This is a link to a Korean show called Hello, Counselor which is a highly entertaining show with celebrities who help out people with family or societal problems. Turn on the subtitles for English.
In this episode. a young girl, 10 years old, is complaining about having to go to after school activities all evening and night well past 10pm, including weekends. I don’t see this as the norm, but in areas both in developed Asia and here in the US where there is extreme competition and high test scores for the majority of people, this isn’t very shocking. Thoughts on this?
In my area, the Korean students attend weekend and summer schools to stay ahead. I am not sure if the Chinese kids still do, 20 years ago they did. My d, at 26, has only just re-connected with her bf from elementary school, a Korean girl who after middle school wasn’t allowed to socialize and had to devote all of her time to studying. She turned to cutting, but thankfully, is now ok and back to the delightful, ebullient person who spent so many weekends in my home before HS. She and my D and their boyfriends double date.
It is the norm in South Korea. Read up on Hagwons. Lots of stress. A lot of rote memorization.
Worth noting is South Korea’s suicide rate is the highest of the major economies.
Haha…I saw the thread title and figured we were going to hear about recipes for children to use with an Instant Pot…
Yikes - Hogwarts is a better choice
Yeah and the kids in South Korea sleep during regular school, during the day, I read. The afterschool programs are where they remain alert. I have also read that changes have been made in recent years due to the high stress and consequences.
Chinese kids do it too afaik. And the cram schools start at really early age too, for parents who want their kids to go to a competitive middle school, the kids have to start after school programs early since many of the tests require advanced (relative to their school work) math/English. I have a friend who practically spent their weekends in the car - kid ate in the car/parents slept there while the kid was taking various lessons. And in addition, many of the kids also have to do music instrument/sports, “busy” is an understatement.
Do not worry social media is going to take care of this issue in next few decades. The best thing chill parents can do with their kids is give them electronic devices to relax.
It is funny creator of socail media keeping their own kids away from those social media.
Do what I say is the new mantra, not do what I do myself.
As an elementary teacher in suburban Northeast I can share that it is not limited to one ethnic group or geographic region of the world. We have so many kids of all backgrounds who travel for sports or ECs beginning in the 1st/2nd grade. Doing gymnastics, cheer, soccer, lax, etc… for 3-5 days a week for hours each day, traveling to Disney during the school year for competitions or missing 3 Fridays a month for regional competitions. Multiple teams, multiple levels, a few sports to make them well rounded, all year. Parents are wowed that their 6 and 8 year olds are being invited to this team or that competition - not realizing that this is all a $$$ maker instead of a statement of their chid’s special talent. This is often in addition to the practices for each level and team, the 2 times weekly KUMON classes (which I have seen negative returns on time/$ investment), music lessons with a private coach, and church/religious activities, sibling activities, and the pressure cooker is real. The kids are suffering in the name of making them happy and well rounded and bringing out the best.
It is easy for the many parents I have encountered to judge the parents who are from a different culture who are “too much” without realizing how much they are buying into, creating, and contributing to this “race” in their own families. But “their child” is different, can handle it, is special, etc… It is easy for an article or in this case a tv show/youtube to look and judge how “they” are so obsessed but we are striking the right balance and thriving… They are abusive and harming their children but we are honoring our child’s talent and special needs… We hear “but he wants to do xyz, thrives at this level, needs the advanced competition…” and those other parents just want it for themselves, or are overdoing it…
“Playing” doesn’t happen but scheduled, planned, and supervised playdates are arranged. Parents complain that the 20 minutes of free reading that is assigned or to finish up 3 -6 problems on the math paper (to see if they can remember, transfer, and complete outside of the classroom full of prompts) are excessive and get in the way of family time. Kids are not focused in school and more reliant on special programing or supports then ever. Everyone needs accomodations but then complain that others are getting an unfair advantage for their “unneeded” supports - unlike their child that “really” needs it.
Parents push for higher standards but also for more recess and social time, because they don’t have it at any other time of their overscheduled day. Are we teaching more so we don’t fall behind or playing more because they need the break before doing 5-8 more hours of advanced training after school? Is that advanced training just for those that can afford it? Is the renewed focus on play, and downtime during the school day keeping those without the means to supplement and enrich down? Parents are scared of their kids falling behind or losing an advantage. Kids are stressed.