Maybe You Should Learn to Relax!
也许你该学习如何放松了！
These days, Chinese children are sometimes busier on weekends than weekdays because they have to take so many after-school classes.
这些天里，中国孩子们的周末通常要比平日还要忙，因为他们要参加众多的课外补习班。
Many of them are learning exam skills so that they can get into a good high school and later a good university.
许多学生要学习掌握考试技巧，这样他们能考上一个好的高中，接着考上一所好的大学。
Others are practicing sports so that they can compete and win. However, this doesn't only happen in China.
其他的孩子则要参加体育锻炼，这样他们能参加比赛，从而获得胜利。然而，像这样的情况并不只是发生在中国。
The Taylors are a typical American family. Life for Cathy Taylor's three children is very busy.
泰勒一家是一个典型的美国家庭。卡斯·泰勒的三个孩子的生活就很忙。
"On most days after school," Cathy says, "I take one of my two boys to basketball practice and my daughter to football training.
“在课外的大部分时间里，”卡斯说，“我要带着其中的一个儿子去参加篮球训练，然后带着女儿参加足球训练。
Then I have to take my other son to piano lessons. Maybe I could cut out a few of their activities,
然后我还不得不带着另外一个儿子参加钢琴训练。可能我会削减一些课外补习班，
but I believe these activities are important for my children's future. I really want them to be successful."
但是我相信这些课外活动对孩子们的未来很重要。我特别希望他们能成才。”
However, the tired children don't get home until after 7:00 p.m. They have a quick dinner, and then it's time for homework.
然而，疲惫的孩子们直到晚上7点才能回家。他们要匆匆吃完晚饭，接下来就要做家庭作业。
Linda Miller, a mother of three, knows all about such stress.
琳达·米勒是三个孩子的母亲，她能切实地感受到这种压力。
"In some families, competition starts very young and continues until the kids get older," she says,
“在许多家庭，当孩子们还很小的时候就开始竞争，这种情况一直要持续到他们长大，”她说，
"Mothers send their small kids to all kinds of classes. And they are always comparing them with other children. It's crazy.
“母亲们送孩子们参加各式各样的补习班，并且总是拿自己的孩子和别人家的孩子进行比较。这是一件很疯狂的事儿。
I don't think that's fair. Why don't they just let their kids be kids? People shouldn't push their kids so hard."
我认为这很不公平。为什么不让孩子们做他们该做的事儿呢？家长不应该给孩子们太多的压力。”
Doctors say too much pressure is not good for a child's development. Dr. Alice Green says all these activities can cause a lot of stress for children.
医生说过，过大的压力并不利于孩子们的成长。爱丽丝·格林医生指出，这些课外活动能给孩子们带来压力。
"Kids should have time to relax and think for themselves, too. Although it's normal to want successful children, it's even more important to have happy children."
“孩子们需要时间来放松自己，同时他们也需要时间为自己考虑。尽管让孩子们成才是一件很正常的事儿，但更重要的是让他们开心。”
