A Perth paediatrician who specialises in behavioural issues says she is seeing an "anxiety epidemic" in primary school-aged children which she attributes to constant testing.

Key points: NAPLAN testing "causing unnecessary stress on children"

NAPLAN testing "causing unnecessary stress on children" Anxiety could be the next "big" public health issue

Anxiety could be the next "big" public health issue Many parents questioning the value of homework to ease pressure on students

Dr Elizabeth Green told 720 ABC Perth regular testing that started at pre-primary and continued with the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) was causing unnecessary stress to children.

"In the last couple of weeks, every kid I have seen in years five, seven and nine said they are worried and scared about NAPLAN," Dr Green said.

"They are scared about failing, about not graduating ... that they are going to be failures and not get a job.

"It's testing and not educating our kids."

Dr Green said anxiety was the next big public health issue Australia was facing.

She said anxiety could manifest with children either becoming very quiet and withdrawn, or they externalise their fears and get angry at their parents, peers and teachers.

"But of most concern is that they just give up," she said.

"They disengage from school and I'm seeing a whole cohort over the last few years of kids who don't go to school and aren't going to finish school.

"That's a concern to educators, parents and mostly for the kids themselves."

It was a concern echoed by 720 ABC Perth listeners.

"My intelligent, happy daughter was very nervous about NAPLAN," Megan said via SMS.

"We didn't ever mention it, the school didn't place undue pressure, [but] kids are smart and they know when they are being tested."

Value of homework questioned

Dr Green said many parents of her patients were now also questioning the value of homework.

"Most parents are saying to me now, 'I've given up, I'm not pushing my kid, I don't want homework, I don't want my kid to be pressured, I just want them to be happy'," she said.

Dr Green said she decided how much homework her young child did each night.

"If my child is exhausted, I am not going to make them sit there for an hour-and-a-half to finish a worksheet," she said.

But Dr Green advised parents they must respect their children's teachers, look at what homework had been set and do only what was reasonable.

"Teachers will understand. There is no way that 10-year-old kids should be doing an hour of homework a night," she said.

Some parents are also questioning the value of homework for young children. ( AAP )

Some listeners agreed that homework had gone too far, while others felt it was good preparation for the challenges of high school.

"Homework ruins family evenings. Who goes home to do more work? We're expecting this of young children who are still developing and it's killing their enthusiasm for school," caller Carolyn said.

"We have an entire society incapable of finding work-life balance and we wonder why when we're instilling in our children that they not only have to work at school, but then have to bring their work home," Jason said via SMS.

"It's unhealthy and undoubtedly the cause of an overworking society," he added.

"I have two children, one at high school who had no homework during lower school who now is struggling with the concept of homework at high school," Greg said.

"My daughter at lower school gets regular homework. It is my opinion she will transition to homework at high school better."