Is testing really that bad for our kids?

Is testing really that bad for our kids? 

​Over the past few years there's been a lot of debate and discussion around tests at schools, but in reality are hey really such a bad thing and do our kids actually need them as our kids behaviours get more and more wayward, with children not being able to sit still, focus and learn. 

​There is actually nothing wrong with testing our kids, at any age, be it age 5 or 15 years of age. Tests are and can be supportive, they help teachers to gauge where your child is at, and where they might need extra support or focus. 

Now I have seen tests been carried out in schools many a time, the kids aren't bothered by them, they do what needs to be done, answer questions and hey presto the test is done. 

The problems I feel, for example when we hear about kids in tears etc, actually comes in when we as adults, parents react and impose. We may reacting to the tests, sympathise with our kids, or put pressure on them to do well, be better than others, foster competition, make a huge big deal out of the test etc -  ultimately we are creating anxiety in our children, getting them worried about tests. I say that with no judgement of any parent, or the parents of parents as this is how we may have been brought up and parented before. 

​There is also the system that we need to look at, and if you want to hate anything, it's best to hate the system rather than the tests, education department or teachers etc.

In many instances, we need to hate a system that allows such and such  .... and in this case hating a system that actually puts pressure on schools, head teachers etc for their main focus first and foremost to be about attainment and grades well before the well being and relationship with the kids. It is not a teachers or a schools fault, no sympathy here, just the simple understanding they are doing their job and carrying out what they are asked to do. 

​And in all honesty out kids way hard behaviours are getting worse, there is lack of focus, disrespectful behaviour, given up-ness, not wanting to work hard, lack of responsibility, wanting everything there and then without putting in the work, not being able to keep bums on seat, distracted all the time, thinking its okay to speak to people like crap, ruling eyes, etc not to mention chair throwing  hitting people, only doing work when they feel like it, and that's the tip of the iceberg, that's primary schools and then speaking to high school teachers who say kids can't just sit and learn anymore, the can't sit still, focus, they loose them really quick.

​Seeing and hearing all of this, we actually need to keep testing from a young age with our kids, it helps them, supports the, supports teachers to do their jobs, to support our children to learn and grow. So maybe rather than scraping tests for young children, we allow them and bring our focus back to responsibly parenting our kids.