Child psychologist advises parents on handling children's rejection from prestigious high schools

Special education therapist Zuzana Zimová is offering guidance to parents whose children were not accepted to their desired gymnasiums, Slovakia's most prestigious secondary schools that prepare students for university. Zimová warns parents against directing disappointment toward their children, emphasizing that while parents may feel let down by the admission outcome, they should not express disappointment in the child themselves. She argues that maintaining a positive parent-child relationship is more important than academic achievement, asking parents to imagine their relationship with their child in 20 years and consider whether they would prioritize their child having a university degree over having a good relationship with them. The advice comes as Slovak families navigate the competitive secondary school admission process, where gymnasium placement is highly sought after as a pathway to higher education.