More parents nowadays value their children’s mental health over anything else, including their school grades. They now hope to prioritise their child’s well-being than adding more stress on keeping their grades up.
These parents decided to shift their priority to monitoring their kids’ mental health. Moreover, they want to balance their kids’ mental health and school performance properly.
As much as we want our kids to become academic achievers, we believe parents shouldn’t forget about their mental health. It is not just the parents; schools are also starting to step up and make a move regarding this matter.
More Parents Prioritise Children’s Mental Health Over Grades
A Singaporean mum was able to change her priority over time to ensure that her child was mentally healthy. In the past, one of her primary goals and concerns is to support her child in having good grades.
Like her, more parents decided to prioritise their child’s mental health over their school grades. They want to value their kids’ well-being and enjoy their childhood.
A softer parenting approach helps improve most child-parent relationships. This method also encourages kids to be more open and confide with their parents.
Traditionally, Asian parents involve themselves in their children’s studies. They do this to ensure that their kids keep their grades up in school.
Furthermore, they unknowingly add more pressure by taking over their kids’ free time. Parents either hire tutors or enrol their kids on enrichment centres during the weekends. By doing this, their children barely have time to take a break from anything school-related.
Because of these acts, parents often overlook their children’s well-being. Yes, prioritising school grades help secure a better future for our kids. However, this way of thinking makes us forget that they also want to enjoy their youth.
Image Souce: iStock
Fortunately, more parents have been prioritising their kids’ mental health over maintaining good grades. With this, more child-parent relationships improved over the years.
Meanwhile, some parents struggle to implement a softer parenting approach at home. This challenge comes from kids who already adjusted to the competitiveness of keeping their grades up. These children are used to the pressure of being the best in school.
Despite this predicament, we discourage parents from adding more pressure on their young overachievers. Instead, show your support and urge them to take breaks now and then.
“The least they need is for us parents to add more stress,” said one mum.
Additionally, you can help your kids by asking about their day. Don’t involve yourself too much and support them if they need help. This helps them cope with school-related stress at home.
Focusing on Your Kids’ Emotional Well-Being
One of the best feelings for parents is seeing their children achieve in life, especially in their academic standing. They would love to witness their child’s enthusiasm for learning and working.
Do you ever wonder why? Some parents view this as a driving force for their kids to become dedicated. Parents will always be happy to see their kids becoming competitive in fulfilling their life goals.
Concerning this, most parents believe that their children’s performance in school serves as a training ground. It could be their training ground to be future successful individuals.
However, academics are not always a child’s best platform to show what they are capable of. Aside from that, not every kid has the same and equal capability and mental capacity as the others.
Fortunately, many parents nowadays put more value on their and prioritise their child’s mental health over anything else. They believe parents should be more concerned about their children’s happiness and ensure they are mentally healthy.
More schools offer better counselling services to ensure the welfare of their students. They communicate regularly with both students and parents via phone calls and e-mails.
Image Souce: iStock
Better Parenting Style
It would be best for parents to reflect on their parenting style. It is essential to ensure that the way they do things as parents would not only focus on pointing out their child’s wrongdoings.
Parents should find the right approach at home to connect with their children. Keep in mind that it is not harmful to go for parenting workshops. This way, parents will learn more about the different communication styles best suit different situations.
Best Ways to Boost Your Child’s Mental Health
Mental health problems are spreading like wildfire, especially after the onset of the pandemic. External support would be beneficial, especially for children. Here are the four best ways how:
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Create a safe space where your child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions without judgment.
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Engage in fun activities like dancing, biking, or playing sports together to boost their mood and reduce stress.
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Prioritise nutritious meals, regular sleep patterns, and a balanced routine to support their physical and mental health.
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Ensure that your child sets aside time for hobbies that are unrelated to school.
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Teach them mental health skills that include learning to wait and regulating their emotions.
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Encourage them to release stress by doing chores. Promoting a clean environment at home boosts their mental health.
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Plan vacations or gateways to encourage them to take breaks.
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Maintain a healthy environment at home. Parents must create a positive and open space for their kids to help them de-stress.
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