Most of us have had one of those days when we’ve thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could be a kid again, without all the stress (压力) of my job and the pressure to succeed?” ___ (1) __ did you ever consider that many kids today are feeling a ___ (2) __ type of stress to that felt by adults?
In a__ (3) __ that values success, children are forced to grow up too quickly. They are ___ (4) __ to learn to read and count even before they can walk; to outperform the other kids in their class. This rushed childhood creates too much stress that many experts believe can have __ (5) __ effects.
Children who suffer the stresses of adulthood will also show the___ (6) __of adulthood. Many children are developing stress-related conditions, such as sleep disorders. Suicide (自杀) and depression, once limited to ___ (7) __, have found their way into the child’s community.
Many parents seek to___ (8) __ super kids, making them overly competitive. ____ (9) __, in their eagerness to bring up an academic prodigy (神童), many parents often raise an underachiever. When these children___ (10) ___ to live up to their parents’ expectations (which are often unrealistic), the children become so___ (11) __that they cannot perform well.
Children are under great pressure when they feel that their performance is connected with the love they__ (12) __. They feel very ashamed and sad when they are not__ (13) __ . These feelings even carry into their adult careers.
How do we avoid__ (14) __ our children through childhood? Remember that play is an important part of childhood. It is__ (15) __ to reduce stress, encourage creativity and experience joy. Parents shouldn’t turn play into work, and they shouldn’t try to ___ (16) __ children during their play period. Dr. David Elkind, author of The Hurried Child, advises parents to let children be __ (17) ___.
___ (18) ___ , childhood is an important part of one’s life, and it should be ___ (19) __. Kids have the right to a___ (20) _ , and we shouldn’t push them through this stage.