Expert Warns of Parental Stress on Kids
Amid a shift to distance learning in the UAE, education expert Heather Harris advised parents to manage their own composure. She warned, "stress and parental anxiety will transfer to children," urging a flexible and measured approach to home learning that prioritizes well-being over rigid schedules.
Chronic parental stress can physically alter a child's developing brain, specifically the system that regulates the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels in children are linked to difficulties with learning, attention, and emotional regulation, which can persist into adolescence. This impact isn't limited to one parent; studies show that a father's stress and mental health are just as crucial to a child's development as the mother's. A study of parents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE, identified academic and technical stress as significant factors for parents during the shift to online learning. The same study found that academic stress, in particular, was a major predictor of how engaged parents were with their children's online education. In the UAE, common challenges for parents managing home learning include the significant time commitment required and the difficulty in developing a well-rounded curriculum without professional teacher training. A study on expatriate families in the UAE specifically noted the pressure placed on mothers, who often serve as the primary learning facilitators. For children, a key challenge of distance learning is social isolation and fewer opportunities to interact with peers, which can potentially lead to social anxiety. A 2021 survey by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) found that 57% of parents believe their children learn better at school compared to distance learning.
