To cry at the level of demand asked of children/ young people?

[SophieWantsABlokeyBloke]

I'm just catching up on the Grammar school programme via BBC iPlayer.

Just the level of demand overall, and the sheer amount of pressure that seems to be of these children.

It takes me back to the pressures of vomiting in the hallway during my 'SATS' before the end of infants (before going up to Year 4, I think). My mum wasn't even pushy.

I remember crying. And I was a tough cookie usually.

It also reminds me GCSEs are getting harder. And everything in general is just more selective.

Childhood and young adulthood is just so full of pressure.

I'll get my coat, I suppose

I've from a generation where there was no coursework. You went to school and then one day, near the end of your term you were given exams that had the potential to utterly define your life. Mess a couple up and there was NO way you were going to university.

That's pressure.

I'm overseas somewhere in Europe and I can tell you it's much worse pressure where I am.

Not only do kids here get into the grammar school equivalent with the same kind of stress (lots of work, courses, mock tests etc) But if they pass, they aren't actually in the school permanently; they are on probation for 6 months. They have to get certain marks, they track averages on a special app and then between 12 - 20% are out by January and go to the normal High school. And so it goes on, and the pressure if never off. My child passed the probation quite well, but he's now failing a lot of exams and is in danger of being placed on another probation. It's a huge stress for everyone. He works every night and one day at the weekend. I can't imagine now the next 5 years, it's a lot of rote learning - but the end result is good - at the lack of a childhood. There are exams every week and everything is graded. My child has only just turned 13 years.

I haven't seen the programme you mention BTW, just some clip I am guessing from it on BBC news. I'd like to see it but I don't have BBC i player.
Basically life now is competitive. It's starts younger. Think about Asia. But it's not all about academics - there are other viable ways as well - at least where I live so I have faith in that too.

In my head, it comes down to this -

The world is getting even more competitive now. There are more people. Exams are harder. Jobs are fewer. Prospects can be scarcer.

My 6 month old already attends a language class (obviously through play). And he models and I hope he continues to do so because I believe it gives him perspective, adaptability and experience in a range of environments.

These things are all very gentle on him of course and if he didn't enjoy, I would withdraw.

I'm just so worried about him not fulfilling something due to me not doing enough

he models and I hope he continues to do so because I believe it gives him perspective, adaptability and experience in a range of environments

Is he not being paid then?

Hope Yes he is getting paid

A language class for a 6 month old?!

I’m also from a generation where it was just exams. I had crap teaching and am pretty intelligent and should have passed my 12+ but didn’t. I was under a lot of pressure as I had to try and pass my exams with very inferior schooling - the secondary modern I went to would have been in special measures by today’s standards but no such scheme existed. Now that was also a lot of pressure. Just of a different kind. I managed to get to university despite not knowing how to revise or study. I was incredibly lucky.

Forgot to add. You’re worrying about the pressure yet already getting a baby to learn a language. Your child is destined to also puke during their sats if you continue in this way.

And he models and I hope he continues to do so because I believe it gives him perspective, adaptability and experience in a range of environments.

ummm he is 6 months old. I think you're getting ahead of yourself a bit here.

I’m laughing at the notion of a six month old who is blessed with a cute face gaining perspective, experience and adaptability in the workplace.

Kids have always been under pressure. My parents either passed the 11 plus or went to the technical school where they learned basics and left at 14.so then, at 11,your future really was mapped out.

So so glad your 6 month old is being given perspective.......

Whatever.

Forgot to add. You’re worrying about the pressure yet already getting a baby to learn a language. Your child is destined to also puke during their sats if you continue in this way

There is nothing pressurised about any of his activities. The language class is basically a sing song class with clapping and Spanish words thrown in.

Modelling, he isn't really 'working'. He's having people making an utter fuss of him and he loves the attention and cuddles with the different people he meets.

Nothing about it is structured apart from me having to turn up on time

I'm overseas somewhere in Europe and I can tell you it's much worse pressure where I am

People who know nothing of other countries always assume we have everything the worst, hence the idiot phrases like broken Britain and rip off Britain.

These programmes exaggerate and purposely make people look bad.

There was a programme about the 11+ about 10 years ago and there was a dad on there, who looked really pushy. The son on TV went into the grammar school in the same year as my neighbour's son and about a week after the programme aired. The boy on TV went around telling everyone that his dad really wasn't that bad.

I don't know what possesses the parents to go on television programmes though. I would never agree to that. They are edited and they probably ask kids leading questions to get them to cry - "so what happens if you FAIL and disappoint your parents?"

OP, do you really think there isn't any pressure in modelling?

Yes, today's educational world came about because when I was at school, 1967-80, it was perfectly possible to pass through the whole system with only the 11+ to track your progress- except, unlike SATS, that wasn't what it was for; it was a test to decide, possibly, your entire future, job prospects, wealth- everything.

Schools weren't inspected, teacher's weren't assessed on exam successes, a SM kid just got a shrug when his O levels equalled a D and an E.

"I've from a generation where there was no coursework. You went to school and then one day, near the end of your term you were given exams that had the potential to utterly define your life. Mess a couple up and there was NO way you were going to university.

That's pressure."

OP you just summed up the new GCSE'S and I don't think it's really a good thing. With a total change in the marking levels as well totally confusing the sistuation 7 now being an A equivalent but you can get 8 and 9 mark as well.

You’re absolutely missing the point. You're so worried about not doing enough that you’ve already enrolled your ds in a language course. There will be other classes and courses. Right now they’re fun. Not so much so when he’s 5/6/7 + and just wants to go home and chill in front of the tv. Of course it’s not structured for a baby. Do you think we are a bunch of fools?

My 6 month old already attends a language class (obviously through play). And he models and I hope he continues to do so because I believe it gives him perspective, adaptability and experience in a range of environments.

Pseuds Corner rang to give you the lifetime award...

OP, do you really think there isn't any pressure in modelling?

Not for small children, no.

Of course there is once you reach a certain age.

But the great thing about modelling is you're not even contacted unless you fit the brief anyway, so you'd never know the job existed unless someone else with a child of similar age and size matched the brief.

Do you really think small children are put under pressure? You're either good with the camera or you're not. It can't really be forced. You can spot it a mile off, and babies and toddlers can't even fake it

caffelatte100 if its that hard on him why not just put him in the standard secondary school?

Childhood and young adulthood is just so full of pressure and yet you take your 6 month old to a language class. It doesn't matter that its just fun to him, the fact that you take him to that and the modeling which you hope he'll keep up so he earns lots learns perspective, adaptability and experience suggests you will end up being one of those pushy parents

Surely every generation faces pressures over school/exams etc?
When I was doing my A levels, less than 10% of kids got into university at all. I applied to study medicine at a time when female applicants to the London medical schools were restricted - 90% of the places were reserved for men. I eventually got into a Scottish university med school which was regarded as terribly progressive, because it gave 30% of places to females! I think girls now face a rather more level playing field, although there is still a lot of pressure over entry requirements. And we had NO coursework at school - absolutely everything depended on your exam performance on the day. I still have occasional nightmares that I'm sitting my O levels without having revised...!

I wouldn't rely on modelling teaching your child perspective, adaptability and experience in a range of environments, if I were you. The reality for child models is that there's a demand for cute babies but that is no guarantee that it will continue beyond the age of 2.