Page 31 - FWG Issue 8_2022

Today’s Child

are so desensitised to much of it, we don’t
realise the burden it puts on our mental
health. Rampant crime, perpetual load-
shedding, and the impossible task of
obtaining a driver’s license when the
only machine in the country is broken.
Then there is the sky-rocketing petrol
price, widespread corruption, crumbling
infrastructure, an ailing economy and
inflation. Of course, I can’t omit the part
about surviving a pandemic, which caused
fear, isolation and anxiety worldwide –
especially when parents found themselves
suddenly juggling work from home
routines and having to navigate their kids
through online schooling.

I am sure that just reading that paragraph
was exhausting. Now, if you consider how
challenging it can be for the adults, take a
moment to think about our kids. We can
become caught up in it all and imagine
that many of those things go unnoticed
by children, but they are far more aware
of what is happening in the world than we
give them credit for. They pick up on our
stress and access what’s happening in the
world through social media and overheard
conversations. Although some of us may go
out of our way to shield them from it, it’s
also discussed on the school playground,
often in ways that can make it far more
frightening, without context.

Then there’s the added academic pressure,
peer pressure and hectic extramural
commitments with minimal downtime. asked that they get assessments due to same distractibility, inattention, poor work
their distractibility, inattention, poor work ethic and poor performance that regularly
OUR CHILDREN ARE IN TROUBLE ethic and poor performance. The aim was accompany ADHD. And when the anxiety
According to UNICEF, 65% of adolescents to pursue a diagnosis of ADHD or a similar was tackled, the children thrived.
said they were struggling with their mental learning challenge with the hope of getting
health but didn’t seek help. Many said it them on medication like Ritalin or Concerta SO, HOW CAN WE HELP?
was because they didn’t know where to to help. The most important thing we can do for our
get help, didn’t feel it was severe enough kids is to be present enough to recognise
to speak to anybody, or were afraid they But the assessments often ended the signs, communicate with them, and
would be judged. Although there is far up revealing something completely make them feel safe to communicate with
more awareness than before, there is still unexpected. It turned out they had us. Awareness of your children’s mental
a stigma attached to mental health issues. exceptional intelligence, were completely health is just as essential as physical health.
And it needs to change. stifled by a system that tried to squish them When left unchecked, issues like anxiety and
into an ill-fitting box and were frequently depression can lead to countless problems
During the eight years that I taught at crippled by anxiety. The assessments gave down the road, including substance abuse,
a school for gifted kids, I picked up on a very different perspective regarding the self-harm and eating disorders.
things regarding anxiety in children. so-called ADHD pandemic.
Bear in mind that gifted kids – as well I am not a doctor or a psychologist. I am
as many neurotypical kids – are chronic Don’t get me wrong. I am not anti- just a teacher and a mom who dealt with
overthinkers that worry constantly. And medication, and I fully believe that ADHD these issues on the ground and speak from
don’t assume this is limited to adolescents. is real. I have spent enough time in the my own observations and experience. The
I was teaching Grade 4 for most of my years classroom to realise that medication can be extremely high expectations and pressure
there and often encountered anxiety in life-changing when correctly prescribed in on kids became obvious. Parents are well-
my students. Many of the children were the right circumstances. But what stood out meaning. They want their kids to do well
referred to us when their previous schools to me was how anxiety often caused the at school to set them up for a bright future

Fourways Gardens • 29 • September 2022