Examinations are a stressful time for students and some will have a fear of failure that simply adds to the stress. Preparing for exams and getting ready to give the exam in itself is a stressful activity for school students. Add to that the pressure of dealing with exam stress and this leaves students in a mess, thus affecting their performance in exams. It is times like these when parents have to take a step forward and help their children deal with exam stress.
If you are a worried parent, fretting about how to help your child cope with exam stress, then this article will be of much use. In this article, we will share with you a few pointers on how to help your child deal with exam stress.
- Recognise stress
The first step towards helping your child cope with stress is to recognize the signs of stress in your children. Children will not be able to tell out their stress, but as parents, you can try to figure out when your children are in a stressed state. Look for signs of anxiety, irritable behaviour, isolation, and loss of appetite. When you see these signs, sit down with your child and have a heart-to-heart talk about how exams are not the end and are simply part of the learning process.
- Check their eating and sleeping habits
Exam stress can cause stress eating and cause irregular periods of sleep. This will affect their physical health along with causing mental stress. Make sure that your children do not consume too much of energy drinks and sugar-containing foods. Provide them food rich in vitamins, proteins, and minerals. This will help them keep a healthy body and maintain fitness during exams. Along with good food, your children also need to get good rest at night so they are fresh for the next morning. Take care to see that they get full 8 hours of sleep so their minds can rest.
- Pay attention to their studies
You would have tight schedules and stay busy throughout the day. But that is not an excuse to not monitor your child. Children in their schooling age need parental supervision and you should not let that take a back seat. Have an eye on what your children are studying and if they are sticking to the designed study plan. Checking with them if they stick to their daily schedules will lessen the burden of preparation and reduce their stress.
- Avoid comparisons
Children’s performance in the examination does not reflect their ability to learn nor their potential. Avoid making comparisons and saying stuff that might hurt their feelings. This will bring down their performance in the examinations. Do not question their ability based on their performance in the exams. Comparisons will never encourage them to perform better.
- Reduce distractions
Separate out an individual space for your children to study in calmness. Keep the space clean and clear of clutter. Have your family discussions, TV sounds, and other distractions away from the space so children are not tempted to rise from their space. Set up a suitable atmosphere for your children to study – this will help them improve their ability to think and increase brain concentration.
- Teach them to accept failures
Children are scared at most times of not meeting their parent’s expectations. Help your children understand that studies are a part of life and so is failure. This will help them look at exams with a positive outlook and perform better. They will not be forced to study for the sake of studying, instead, they will take an interest in studies.
We hope these tips come in handy for you to help your child cope with exam stress and remain stress-free during exams. Stay by their side and provide the motivation and emotional support that they need. This will not only bring the both of you closer but also show your child that you care about them and that they can rely on you.
