Burnout in Children and Adolescents – What should parents look out for in order to react in a timely manner?

Are many children and adolescents at risk of becoming overwhelmed, or is it a kind of "trend"? The term burnout is currently being used excessively. It is true that the situation of children and adolescents has changed significantly in the past 15-20 years.

Specifically, the working world has changed, including for parents. Job security has significantly decreased, causing concerns for many people.
At the same time, expectations and the pressure for success on children and adolescents have increased in order to adapt to these changing labor market conditions.
In parallel, new media such as mobile phones and the internet, along with the associated new forms of communication, have greatly increased the speed of daily life. This means that one can be reached anytime and anywhere – and this, in turn, increases stress, with the fear of missing out.
This is against the backdrop that children today receive less and less education in terms of relationships and structure, and that parents set fewer boundaries. The idea of ​​prevention is fundamentally about taking action in a timely manner to avoid getting sick.
This begins with the issue of overloading, even in very young children. The earlier children learn that there are limits, the easier it will be for them to learn to accept boundaries and set boundaries for themselves. Overloading always has something to do with boundaries – recognizing my individual limit of resilience or, conversely, exceeding it.
However, for this, we need mothers and fathers who do not approach their children in a partnership-like manner but who are aware of their role as parents. This role awareness means concretely that mothers and fathers engage with their children, spend time together, are aware of their role as role models, and set and enforce boundaries according to age and development.
There are often reports of children with packed schedules. Against the backdrop of the apparent growing overload of children and adolescents, how meaningful is this form of "leisure stress"?
Parents often well-meaning believe that increasing their children's competencies and skills from a very young age will enhance their chances in life. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked that children need space to be children. Being able to be a child here means being able to play without the pressure of performance and expectations, spending their leisure time without constraints. This promotes their development more than a predetermined framework.
Current studies confirm that children and adolescents are indeed showing symptoms of overload more and more often. What should parents watch out for in order to react in a timely manner? Symptoms such as lack of drive and motivation, sadness, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances should be taken seriously. If children and adolescents experience these symptoms for more than two weeks, professional help should be sought. Through supportive psychotherapy, young people can learn how to cope with stress. The involvement of parents in this therapeutic process is of great importance.
References: 1. 'Burnout in Children and Adolescents - Prevention, But How?' Mag. Martin Pachinger is a Clinical and Health Psychologist, Sport Psychologist, and Director of the Counseling Center for Children's Aid in Linz. Gesund-in-ooe.at"