Exam stress – advise for parents

Exam stress – advise for parents

Exams can be a challenging and stressful part of school life for children and young people; but this time can also be stressful for parents too. This year in particular is a very different season for exams; this new way of doing things can also add to the stress. However, there are a number of ways to ease the stress and help keep everything in perspective.

Eating well

Help your child feel at their best during exam time by providing a healthy, balanced diet. Try to include foods such as fish, nuts, yoghurt and blueberries in their diet; all of which are proven to help with concentration and memory. Try to steer clear of junk foods until after the exams as it can impact their energy levels and focus.

Getting enough sleep

Good sleep improves thinking and concentration; most teenagers need 8 to 10 hours’ sleep a night. Encourage children to take time to wind down after studying or using a computer, taking half an hour away from text books and screens can help them get a good night’s sleep.

Help them with their study

Ask your child about their study; make sure they have somewhere comfortable to revise and ask them how you can support them during this time. Together you could create a revision timetable or get hold of some past papers for practice.

Talk about exam nerves

Exam time is a time to talk! Reassure your child that it’s normal to feel anxious, nerves are a natural reaction to exams. Encourage children to think about how much they know, all the study they have put in and how both of these should make them feel more confident.

Encourage breaks and exercise

Taking regular breaks can help with long-term retention of knowledge and exercise can help boost energy levels and relieve stress. Walking, cycling, swimming, football or dancing can all be effective; so, encourage your child to choose their activity and give themselves a break.

Be reassuring and positive

Make time to listen, support and encourage children to do their best. Before they go into an exam be reassuring and positive; failing is not the end of the world. If things don’t go quite as they’d hoped, they can take the exam again. Take the time after each exam to talk it through with your child, focus on what went well before moving onto the next exam.

Make time for treats!

Why not add in “treat time” to the revision timetable. This can give children a goal to aim for and means their timetable is not just full of study and little else. And when the exams are all done – be sure to celebrate with an “end of exams treat”!

“Trust yourself, you know more than you think you do” – Benjamin Spock