Parents are putting a lot of pressure on their children to succeed.

What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development?

As the world becomes an increasingly competitive place, children are now under immense parental pressure to achieve success. This development is multifaceted; and I believe it is negative overall.

One reason parents put increased pressure on their children to succeed is rising competition. Most parents wish their children to become successful for a promising future career in high-paying professions such as doctors, lawyers, or other specialists. These professionals are usually required to hold degrees from prestigious educational institutions to practice their profession; and securing admission to these schools has become challenging as an increasing number of students wish to pursue these professions. This influx of potential candidates means students have to meet higher admission requirements; and parents believe that their children have to be fully prepared since a young age to secure a prospective future, which explains the immense pressure they put on their children.

Another explanation for this development is that parents often deem their children’s success to be their proud achievement. Parenting has been widely regarded as a noble and laborious task, with significant societal implications as their children will be the future of our society. To illustrate, parents who managed to raise a doctor might feel a sense of pride as their child is a person of immense value and contribution to society. The rise of social media intensifies this trend by exposing parents to posts showcasing their children’s accomplishment from their peers and friends; and to satisfy their ego, they wish their children to have a distinguished career path, hence the ever-increasing pressure on their children.

In my view, this pressure could do their children a disservice as they might be deprived of their childhood. This deprivation is exemplified by the intense timetable which parents force their children to follow to achieve success, which is commonplace East Asian countries. For example, young students in Korea and Vietnam have to take many extra classes to practice for their upcoming university examinations, which could determine their future. Consequently, they do not have the time to seek respite and regain their energy, and this exhaustion usually leads to cognitive declines and, in extreme cases, depression and suicidal thoughts.

In conclusion, rising competition for desirable careers and parental ego are two explanations for parents’ increasing pressure on their children; and I believe this is negative in general due to the demanding nature of such pressure and exhausting schedules involved. Pressure should be healthier and more effective for children if exercised with moderation.