A schoolkid's depression

Today, an Indonesian schoolkid works very much harder than an adult with a career. Take, for example, Anisa. She is my neighbor and a fourth grader. She starts her day with  usual morning activities at home. Then she goes to school. She spends her time at school from 7 am until 1 pm. And I guarantee that it is a boredom (sitting in a classroom, listening to the teacher, looking at the board, doing a bunch of exercises). Then she goes home. She has to take a nap because after that she must come to a private lesson in the afternoon. In the evening, she must study again to prepare for the lessons for the next day (doing a bunch of homework).

No wonder there are many depressed schoolkids in Indonesia. They are forced to master all subjects. They are forced to understand any material, like it or not. They are forced to study from morning till afternoon, then forced again to study at night for the next-day subjects. They are forced to do a lot of homework at night. Then the next day, the teacher doesn't even check their homework. Of course, they are disappointed (or happy if they don't do the homework).

For career persons, they don't have to work hard all day and night. From morning till afternoon, they will just focus to work in the office, doing their main job. They don't have to do many things. They don't have to be a multitasker to make themselves look super fantastic. At home in the evening, they will just have fun (watching TV, playing games, eating out). They don't need to think about and prepare for the next-day job.  It's balanced between career life and personal life.

But think about Anisa's life. The whole day and night is about school life. No personal life, no family life. So, why don't we as parents let our kids have fun at home? They've had enough at school. Let them play with you, have a conversation with you, make jokes with you while they are at home after school. They will forget how boring and sleepy it is at school. The next day, when they are at school, their brain will be fresher to absorb knowledge because they have a happy life at home.