Children: Is Your Child Facing Struggles You Can’t See?
🎧 Listen to The Story & Article
Manoj, an eighth-grade student, was always a bright child, but lately, life seemed overwhelming. At school, his teachers often scolded him for not keeping up with lessons. Classmates started mocking his mistakes, and he felt increasingly isolated. At tuition classes, the pressure mounted further. His tutor scolded him harshly for every wrong answer, making him fear attending those sessions. At home, his parents, though loving, constantly argued about finances, adding to his stress. His younger sister’s demands and his father’s long working hours left him feeling invisible.
Slowly, Manoj’s joy faded. He stopped talking, lost interest in studies, and became withdrawn. He even avoided meals and family interactions. His parents noticed his silence but thought it was a result of teenage mood swings.
One evening, after seeing Manoj sit alone in a corner, his mother insisted on consulting a doctor. The child psychiatrist patiently listened and diagnosed early depression. Through counseling sessions, positive reinforcement, and family support, Manoj gradually began to open up. His parents learned to encourage rather than criticize. His tutor adjusted the teaching pace, and his classmates began including him.
Over months, Manoj regained confidence. Smiles returned, and hope blossomed. His journey was tough, but love, care, and professional help brought him back to life.
Rote learning in education, syllabi not conducive to future AI/ML careers, and a lack of life skills — all these are issues that need to be examined comprehensively. Parents, teachers, and society need to recognize these issues and develop effective solutions. In this article, we will explain the important issues facing children under five categories: health, mental well-being, education, lifestyle, and lack of life skills.
Children often face both visible stress and hidden emotional challenges in today’s world.10 Key Struggles Children Face Today
Here are 10 concise points on how children struggle due to health, mental well-being, education-career disconnect, lifestyle, environment, and lack of life skills:
Poor Nutrition & Health Issues
Increased junk food, sugary drinks, and white foods lead to obesity, diabetes, digestive problems, low energy, and lifestyle diseases in children.Digital Overuse & Physical Health
Excessive use of mobile phones and computers causes eye strain, neck pain, and reduced physical fitness due to a lack of outdoor activities and playgrounds.Hygiene & Disease Risks
Poor sanitation, stagnant water in schools, and unhygienic conditions lead to frequent illnesses like dengue, malaria, and other infections.Bullying & Emotional Trauma
Physical, verbal, and online bullying reduce self-esteem, cause fear of school, depression, and social isolation.Academic Pressure & Mental Health
High academic stress, tuition overload, exam fear, and outdated rote-learning methods cause anxiety, insomnia, and lack of creativity.Career Disconnect & Irrelevant Education
The school syllabus is outdated, not aligned with AI/ML or future careers, lacks practical skills, and overemphasizes memory over problem-solving.Lack of Emotional Support
Absence of real friendships, emotional tolerance, trained school counselors, and exposure to domestic violence cause low self-worth and frustration.Unsafe Lifestyle Environment
School bus overcrowding, rash driving, environmental pollution, and unsafe infrastructure put children’s safety and health at risk.Pandemic Impact & Learning Disruption
School closures during pandemics and health fears disrupt learning and mental well-being, increasing fear and anxiety.Deficiency in Life Skills
Lack of basic skills like swimming, first aid, time management, and financial literacy makes children dependent and ill-prepared for real-life challenges.
Summary: Children’s Key Struggles (Short Overview)
| Category | Short description |
|---|---|
| Health & Nutrition | Junk food, soft drinks, white foods → obesity, diabetes risk; poor hydration; low fiber. |
| Mental & Emotional Wellbeing | Bullying, abuse, loneliness, exam anxiety, and depression are harming confidence. |
| Education & Career Relationship | Rote teaching, tuition load, irrelevant syllabus, weak AI/ML & practical skill alignment. |
| Lifestyle & Environment | Excess screen time, no playgrounds, unsafe buses, pollution, pandemic disruptions. |
| Lack of Life Skills | Missing practical skills: swimming, first aid, money sense, time management, and problem-solving. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do children eat so much junk food? – Taste, easy availability, and advertising influence.
How much screen time is safe? – Not more than 1–2 hours a day for school-going children.
How to reduce test anxiety? – Systematic study, revision, and mental rest.
How to stop bullying? – School policies, counseling, and parental support.
Why is the outdated teaching method a problem? – Lacks future-ready skills.
Why are life skills necessary? – For self-defense and confidence.
How does the burden of three languages affect children? – Less time for other subjects.
How to identify depression in children? – Mood swings, loss of interest, and isolation.
What are the harms of soft drinks? – Diabetes, tooth decay, and obesity.
What is the solution to the shortage of playgrounds for children in your area? – Develop school grounds or community parks, making it the most essential thing for growing children, as important as nutrition.
Watch a Short Video - All Children Struggle to Survive
Age of a Child vs Common Problems
| Age of Child | Key Problems |
|---|---|
| 0–2 years | Feeding issues, sleep irregularity |
| 3–5 years | Speech delay, social fear |
| 6–9 years | Learning gaps, attention issues |
| 10–12 years | Peer pressure, mood swings |
| 13–15 years | Exam stress, self-esteem dips |
| 16–18 years | Career confusion, identity struggles |
Conclusion
The problems faced by children today are connected to health, mental well-being, education, lifestyle, and life skills shortages. Parents, teachers, and society must work together to address these challenges. Building healthy habits, providing future-oriented education, and teaching practical life skills will ensure children are prepared for tomorrow. The focus should be on overall development, not just academics, to create resilient, confident, and capable individuals.
Online Courses, Reference Books, & Websites
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One of the best posts I’ve read.
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