Too Much Academic Pressure

I recently heard a song from 1981 that got me thinking about today’s children and teens and the kinds of things that they face in today’s rapidly changing culture. You might remember the song titled “Under Pressure” that was sung by the band Queen and David Bowie. The reason I think about the song is that its title captures the reality so many of our kids feel as they struggle to navigate life in today’s world. There are a variety of mounting pressures our kids feel, including things like appearance pressure, athletic pressure, and academic pressure. Recent research from the UK found that academic pressure during adolescence is linked to depression and self-harm into early adulthood. The reality is that while our kids do need to be encouraged to use their abilities to do their best, many feel pushed to achieve beyond what they are actually capable of doing. Parents, encourage your kids to study to the glory of God as an act of worship, and don’t make an idol of their grades.