With the future of their children at stake, parents push their children young as two or three to achieve high results. Schools develop curricula to meet these demands. Textbook publishers take advantage of these favourable market conditions. Both schools and business encourage competition as selection criteria. All this results in an increased level of stress for children from preschool age through university. Many children end up with "burnout", as young as age 10, and permanent psychological scars. While parents usually recognize the negative effects of academic stress, many claim it is not a terrible as the potential for academic inadequacy and the resulting lack of career and social success.
2. Children enjoy going to school, even when very young. They enjoy the companionship of their peers; they enjoy learning. Competition comes naturally to them, and they thrive on it.