Spend more time with kids, experts tell parents
TNN | Updated: Jan 18, 2019, 10:37 IST
Picture used for representational purpose onlyKOLKATA: Parents should talk with their children more often on how to handle failures and disappointment, said experts on Thursday. On Wednesday evening a 15-year-old girl, among the toppers in her class, died af ter jumping off the terrace of her tutor’s central Kolkata residence. She held on to the suicide note when she jumped. The girl’s mathematics pre-board examinations did not go well and was upset that her chances of admission in science stream was under threat, said cops.
“Which parents would not like their children to do well in studies? But at the same time, it is important for parents to understand the limitations of their children. They should know their children well and make them understand failure is a part of life. Fostering resilience in children is very important so they can handle failure,” said Dr JR Ram, psychiatrist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals.
Ram said parents should converse more with their children on broader issues and teach them how to handle failure and disappointment. Stressing this, Dr Ranjan Ghosh, psychiatrist with Medica Superspeciality Hospital, said: “Things can go wrong when we set the identity that a student is known for how well they score in the examination. No wonder suicide rate is highest among the age group of 15 and 30 years.”
The implications of parents not conversing with children on how to handle failures can have disastrous consequences. “Many fail to take it after a point and suffer a breakdown. While some go into a prolonged depression, some take the extreme step failing to face what they perceive to be a failure,” said psychiatrist Siladitya Ray.
Senior academics say parents should also be part of regular school counselling sessions. Fr Bikash Mondal, principal Don Bosco School Park Circus, said: “We also ask parents not to put pressure and create an environment at home where students are at ease.”
Seema Sapru, principal, The Heritage School said: “We have regular sessions with parents and even coffee meets with them. The five counsellors give skill sessions to students who are continuously talking to them. Each section gets about 10 sessions every year with the counsellors.”
“Which parents would not like their children to do well in studies? But at the same time, it is important for parents to understand the limitations of their children. They should know their children well and make them understand failure is a part of life. Fostering resilience in children is very important so they can handle failure,” said Dr JR Ram, psychiatrist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals.
Ram said parents should converse more with their children on broader issues and teach them how to handle failure and disappointment. Stressing this, Dr Ranjan Ghosh, psychiatrist with Medica Superspeciality Hospital, said: “Things can go wrong when we set the identity that a student is known for how well they score in the examination. No wonder suicide rate is highest among the age group of 15 and 30 years.”
The implications of parents not conversing with children on how to handle failures can have disastrous consequences. “Many fail to take it after a point and suffer a breakdown. While some go into a prolonged depression, some take the extreme step failing to face what they perceive to be a failure,” said psychiatrist Siladitya Ray.
Senior academics say parents should also be part of regular school counselling sessions. Fr Bikash Mondal, principal Don Bosco School Park Circus, said: “We also ask parents not to put pressure and create an environment at home where students are at ease.”
Seema Sapru, principal, The Heritage School said: “We have regular sessions with parents and even coffee meets with them. The five counsellors give skill sessions to students who are continuously talking to them. Each section gets about 10 sessions every year with the counsellors.”
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