Every child has a natural right to play, to rest, and to grow at his or her own pace. Unfortunately, this right is quietly snatched away when excessive homework replaces play and coaching classes replace childhood. Sadly, in the name of education, we - in India and South Asia -  are slowly teaching children exhaustion before curiosity, and pressure before joy.

During harsh winters, a disturbing trend has been quietly normalized. Small children, some barely four, five or six years old, are pushed out of warm beds before sunrise in places like Kashmir and northern India and sent to coaching centres in biting cold. This is followed by heavy homework shared casually on WhatsApp groups by their respective schools. What is presented as discipline or competitiveness is, in reality, an unhealthy burden on young minds and their fragile bodies.

Exposure To Early Morning Cold

The physical impact is the most immediate. Children’s immune systems are still developing, and exposure to early morning cold increases the risk of respiratory infections and seasonal illnesses. Sleep deprivation further weakens immunity and affects growth, appetite, and concentration. A tired child cannot learn effectively, no matter how many hours are added to their schedule.

The mental and emotional cost is deeper and more lasting. Excessive academic pressure at an early age leads to anxiety, fear of failure, and emotional insecurity. When learning is associated with stress, cold, and constant worry, curiosity disappears. Over time, children begin to equate self-worth with performance, a mindset that damages confidence and emotional resilience. Experts in child psychology repeatedly stress that emotional safety is the foundation of healthy learning.

Upbringing and behaviour are shaped by daily experiences. Children raised under constant pressure often grow up with Irritating behavior, aggression, withdrawal, and lack of empathy. With no time to process emotions or simply relax, emotional intelligence remains underdeveloped. Human skills like empathy, patience, and self-awareness cannot be drilled through homework or coaching classes.

From a physiological, sociological, and educational perspective, play and physical activity are non-negotiable. Play strengthens the body, sharpens the mind, and teaches cooperation, leadership, and conflict resolution. Winters already reduce outdoor activity. Replacing playtime with academic overload further damages balance. Research clearly shows that early academic pressure does not guarantee long-term success. In fact, holistic development leads to better outcomes in later years.

Change In Learning Methods

Islamic teachings strongly reinforce this balanced approach. The Prophet Muhammad SAW showed exceptional compassion toward children, shortening prayers when a child cried and engaging with them through play and affection. Islamic scholars like Imam Al-Ghazali emphasized nurturing a child’s natural disposition gently and warned against harshness and excessive burden. Education, in the Islamic worldview, is meant to cultivate character, wisdom, and balance, not fear or exhaustion.

The question is what can be done,and the answer lies in the practical remedies.For small children (up to primary level), focused study of one to one-and-a-half hours a day is more than sufficient, including homework. Learning should be light, activity-based, and seasonal. Winters demand flexibility, not rigidity.

For upper primary children, two to three hours of guided study is enough. Beyond this, returns diminish and stress multiplies.

Primary and upper primary children can also be effectively taught at home for short periods by parents or elders. Simple revision, reading together, storytelling, and discussion often work better than formal coaching. This strengthens family bonds and emotional security while reinforcing learning.

Schools Must Introspect

Schools, especially private institutions, must introspect. The same WhatsApp groups used to flood parents with excessive homework can be used to reduce, rationalize, and redesign tasks. Homework should be meaningful, minimal, and optional during winters, focusing on reading, observation, and revision rather than written load.

Education must be age-appropriate, climate-sensitive, and child-centred. A child rubbing sleepy eyes in the freezing dawn, dragged toward a coaching centre, is not a symbol of discipline. It is a warning. When homework and early classes steal rest and play, education stops nurturing and starts impacting childhood.lets remember that childhood is not a race to be won early. It is a foundation to be built carefully.

If we truly care about children’s future, we must first protect their present. Education should support childhood, not suffocate it.

(The author is an educationist and columnist based in north Kashmir.He writes extensively on educational,social and youth related issues. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at rayeesmasroor111@gmail.com)