'4-Year-Old Exams,' '7-Year-Old Exams'? Teens Pay the Price

The debate over '4-year-old exams' and '7-year-old exams' continues, with experts warning that excessive academic pressure on young children can lead to biological changes in their brains and significant psychological distress. This concern is particularly acute in areas like Seoul's Gangnam district, where such intense early academic competition has sparked public outcry.

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The '4-year-old exam' and '7-year-old exam' controversy has been ongoing.

Last year, the controversy led to legislation banning entrance exams for kindergartens targeting very young children. However, the deeply ingrained belief in the efficacy of early education persists. Online discussions reveal sentiments like, 'If you don't do the 4 or 7-year-old exams the government mandates, you'll just be playing around, and you'll get hit later. It's better to compete sooner.' This highlights the pervasive 'early education myth' in society.

Proponents of early learning often question if starting education earlier doesn't provide more stimulation for the brain. However, pediatric psychiatry experts argue that this approach stems from a misunderstanding of infant brain development. During infancy, the brain's limbic system, often called the 'emotional brain,' develops most rapidly. Therefore, the most crucial stimuli are not cognitive, like language or math, but emotional and social interactions, such as bonding with parents and playing with peers.

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Excessive academic pressure on infants can biologically alter the child's brain, causing psychological distress.

When cognitive stimuli are imposed on a young child's brain in a way that doesn't align with its developmental sequence, neural resources can become divided. This can impede the healthy development of the emotional brain. Even if children appear to enjoy learning, experts caution that this might be a misinterpretation. Young children, still developing their emotional regulation skills, may hide their true feelings to please their parents. This suppressed psychological distress can lead to a 'survival mode' response to stress, making the child vulnerable in the long term.

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The early education myth is so deeply rooted in this society.

Children with a weak foundation in their 'emotional brain' may struggle when they reach adolescence. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for impulse control, may not be fully developed. This can lead to difficulties coping with the rapid brain changes of puberty, making them prone to collapsing under academic failures or resorting to extreme defiance or apathy. Experts emphasize that parents should prioritize consistent physical affection and sensory stimulation to ensure balanced brain development and age-appropriate discipline.

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The most explosive brain region in infancy is the 'emotional brain,' called the 'limbic system.'