Research

I came across many articles about parents's obsession with their children's academics. I never thought that this is something that is so discussed.

Daniel Wong who is a learning and personal development expert found 5 reasons why parents are obsessed:

1. they are trying to achieve their own dreams through their kids
2. they are afraid of failing as parents
3. they think that academic success alone will lead to success in the real world
4. they give in to pressure from another parents
5. they want to boast about their children

In a way or another, I believe that he is right.

In another article by the daily mail, it is argued that parents put a lot of stress on exam results and forget about the importance of getting a part-time job. So when their kids leave school they don't have any experience.

Prof. Kathleen from the Suffolk University in Boston states that

 "Helicopter parenting” is a term used to describe a phenomenon of a growing number of parents, obsessed with their children’ success and safety, who vigilantly hover over them, sheltering them from mistakes, disappointment, or risks, insulating them from the world around them."

She also states that hovering might be the result of fear of failure or anxiety

"Some studies show parents’ engagement in their child’s education are linked to better grades, higher test scores, less substance abuse, and better higher education outcomes; yet some parents are over involved."

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She also states that helicopter parenting ca lead to students being unable to take decisions and they make bad choices relating to all kinds of things

Although some of the information might be true, I personally don't agree with some of it because being able to take decisions and make good choices is about education. But I do agree that parental obsessive behavior towards their children's academics might have an influence on them.

My choice was to go to the dance studio but other children or teenagers might go for extreme choices.

• All this information on this matter is very interesting. In a way or another, as I said previously, I do understand this attitude and why parents act like that. Of course, many of them overreact and exaggerate but there should be another way of making their children understand the meaning of learning.

• As Wong says, what's the point of getting the best marks if at the end of school/college/university you haven't managed to discover who you are as a person and what you like, what defines you? It's more about who you have become at the end of the whole process, what you can do with what you have learned. 
• All this pressure to learn and have good marks made me be tired and unwilling to do anything else but study; there should be a way of combining both