Ludhiana, February 25
Keeping in mind the number of parents seeking counsellors advice to control anxiety level among their wards during examination days, several child psychologists and psychiatrists in the city feel that worrying will not, in any case, improve the performance of children in the exams. Rather, parents and teachers should stop pressurising them to work harder.
Dr (Ms) Kala, Counselling Expert, Secretary General, ROSHNI, an NGO, suggests that instead of worrying, children should use their psychological energy to plan their study routine and try to carry out the targets set for the exams. They should ask the parents or elder sibling to give them short tests for portions covered. The students, specially ones appearing for X and XII board exams, should try to study 8-10 hours per day. Short breaks should be taken after every two hours.
“Besides studies, the students should balance their life by taking walks and doing meditation/prayer for 10 minutes everyday. TV and Computers are psychologically tiring. Avoid these as much as possible. Listening to calm music during breaks really helps”, opines Dr Kala.
Dr Krishnanand, a clinical psychologist in the department of Psychiatry at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) says he often himself finds helpless in treating the stress level among children. “They suffer from sleep disturbances, stomach ailments, fear, memory loss, anxiety etc. Parents should keep in mind that even identical twins are not similar. If one is unique or intelligent in music, he may be very dull in maths or an other subject. There should be no comparisons. The children have started believing in rote whereas basic intelligence is missing. Too much pressure is very harmful for the child. The parents should keep in mind that the sleeping cycle of the child should not get disturbed”, Dr Krishnanand adds.
Dr Rajeev Gupta, another city-based psychiatrist says anxiety and depression among children has increased because parents’ expectations, syllabus and competition have increased manifold. “It is shocking that a majority of parents pressurise their children to tell lies even if they score less marks in exams. They force them to say that they have got 70 per cent or more marks The child gets confused. Such pressure brings inferiority complex among them. This unethical aspect brings aggression or withdrawal symptoms in children, which hampers growth”, Dr Gupta says.
There should be a practical and rational approach towards studies. “Unnecessary pressure brings many abnormalities among children. Citing an example, Dr Gupta says teachers often encourage children, who got their projects made with the help of professionals. On the other hand, the child who has made all the efforts himself gets less marks.
Dr Kala says parents should not scold or criticise the child constantly. Talk to them calmly, sit with them and reward them with their favourite eatables. The parents should never express their anxiety to the child by saying,”I am tense for you or you are useless.” Such statements disturb concentration.
“Be supportive and extra caring, give the child balanced food, vegetables and proteins. Supervise and monitor their studies. Do not put the child in a room for long to make him study alone. Develop home rules for everyone watching TV, he says”.
