Frankly speaking, children today lead exhausting lives. After kindergarten, instead of heading home, they rush to various extracurricular classes and tutoring sessions—a phenomenon increasingly becoming the norm for many youngsters. A recent survey by the Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences on preschoolers' participation in extracurricular classes revealed that over 90% of parents believe such classes are necessary, while more than half agree that "children who don't attend extracurricular classes will fall behind at the starting line."
Many parents enroll their children in multiple extracurricular classes, with some schedules packed from Monday to Saturday. However, experts emphasize that "childhood is a journey, not a race." Early education should not prioritize outcomes over the insights and experiences gained during the learning process.
"Winning at the Starting Line" Education May Backfire
Surveys reveal a growing trend of parents viewing extracurricular classes as crucial "starting line advantages." Yet real-life examples of "hurrying to get somewhere only to arrive nowhere" are not uncommon.Some children who attend preschool classes in English, critical thinking, or language training can recite Tang poetry fluently and perform basic arithmetic within 100. Yet upon entering elementary school, their academic performance becomes mediocre, and some even develop learning difficulties.
"Many children maintain a lead in elementary school due to early preparation and ample knowledge reserves. However, their advantage gradually diminishes in middle school, and by high school, their lack of staying power becomes fully apparent."Huang Juanjuan, Director of the Preschool Education Research Office at the Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences, who participated in this survey, believes that establishing a competitive edge for children does not lie in starting earlier or learning more knowledge than others at the starting line, but rather in their sustained learning and ability to surpass others once the race begins. She advises parents to focus more on cultivating children's fundamental thinking abilities and behavioral habits to lay the foundation for sustainable development.
"Childhood is a journey, not a race," affirms Sang Biao, Professor at East China Normal University's School of Psychology and Cognitive Science. "This means we must follow children's developmental patterns, systematically nurture their intelligence, and create an early education environment suited to their age and individuality."
Avoid Fixating Solely on Learning Outcomes
Piano, abacus mental arithmetic, English, and literacy are the most popular early education programs among parents. A common feature of these programs is their visible educational results, which easily encourage parents. Word spreads quickly, leading more and more parents to "follow the crowd."
Sang Biao believes parents should not fixate solely on learning outcomes but instead prioritize children's insights and experiences during the early education process.Taking piano lessons as an example, he argues that quality early education should cultivate children's musical appreciation and literacy. If the focus is solely on technical skills and pursuing advanced certifications like Grade 8 or 10 while neglecting the learning experience, children may end up "painfully playing Ode to Joy."
Extracurricular classes consume children's rest and playtime
These classes are typically scheduled after school each day. Some parents enroll their children in multiple programs, with schedules packed from Monday to Saturday. Survey data reveals that preschoolers attend extracurricular classes an average of 2.6 times per week, with each session lasting about 110 minutes.This amounts to 286 minutes per week spent on extracurricular classes, averaging 40.9 minutes daily. The survey also revealed that around 80% of preschoolers complete homework or practice related to these classes at home, such as math problems, instrument practice, or drawing. Such intensive scheduling inevitably encroaches on children's time for rest and adjustment, while also reducing opportunities for play and social interaction.
Huang Juanjuan believes that after a full day of kindergarten activities, children need time to adjust and rest. However, extracurricular classes are primarily scheduled after 4 PM Monday through Friday. Over time, this routine can easily lead to physical and mental exhaustion in children.Moreover, the average activity duration per enrichment class is approximately 40 minutes, significantly exceeding the prescribed limits for kindergarten activities: 15 minutes for junior classes, 20 minutes for intermediate classes, and 30 minutes for senior classes. This violates the developmental patterns of young children. Early education doesn't necessarily require enrichment classes Some parents believe that quality early education means enrolling children in various specialized training institutions. Sang Biao disagrees: "In fact, the process of parent-child bonding itself constitutes excellent early education."Domestic psychologists researching the relationship between parenting styles and children's academic performance found significant differences between parents of high achievers and low achievers: the former favored warmth and understanding, while the latter leaned toward punishment and interference. This disparity led to high achievers developing trust, security, positive personalities, and good study habits, whereas low achievers often exhibited rebelliousness, inferiority complexes, aversion to learning, and low self-confidence.
"For a long time, children's cognitive and language development has been the focus of attention, while the healthy development of their inner experiences, such as emotions and feelings, has not received the attention it deserves.""Sang Biao believes that early education should not only focus on intellectual development but also emphasize guiding children to fully develop positive emotional experiences. This includes cultivating subjective well-being and a sense of self-efficacy, stimulating their initiative, encouraging active exploration and development, and enabling them to continuously adapt to new environments.