My six-year-old son comes home with math worksheets and spelling tests every single day. Last week he cried because he got a C on a sight-word quiz, and I found myself wondering if this academic pressure is actually helping him or just making him hate school. I know some parents argue that early rigor builds discipline and a strong foundation, but I can't shake the feeling that we're sacrificing childhood for arbitrary milestones. Kids in Finland don't start formal academics until age seven, yet they consistently outperform US students in later years—so what exactly are we rushing toward?