Exam stress is something that every child has to deal with. Exam tension builds up when the exam season draws near. Students go through the cartload of pressure during exams as to what to study and what not. It is the most crucial time as children have to deal with studies along with the possible lethargy that creeps in and the fear too.
Being successful at the end barely matters, what matters the most is the hard work you put in, the dedication with which you work. Exam pressure comes naturally, and it begets tension and worry. There is no denying the fact that children must plan a schedule which can help them unwind exam stress during examinations. The inordinate burden can be irksome which can leave a negative imprint on the minds of children.
When children burn the midnight oil and work with complete dedication for good grades, parents and teachers must come forward to help children to cope up with the exam tension. It gives confidence to a child and helps him or her to work even harder to get favorable results. Here are some of the points which tell how students and parents help them cope with exam stress :
#1. Proffer Support
Do not remain indifferent when your child is about to sit in the examination hall in the future. Talk to him or her, provide emotional and mental support so that they feel encouraged. When parents talk to their child regarding exam stress, children are bound to share their problems and tensions. Be realistic and do not coerce your child into studying for 10 odd hours straight.
#2. Seek Advice
If you are not able to interact with your child directly, you can look for implicit means where you can seek pointers from mentors and teachers and get to know the loopholes where you can work on. Teachers can help you in providing the weak points of the students.
#3. Encourage Them For A Break
Try as hard as possible to take your child out of a room with books; you can help him or by reducing the exam tension by allowing him to play or go to a park to decompress. Studying at a stretch for long hours can increase the intensity of the exam stress.
#4. Place The Signs Of Stress
Exam tension brings with it a lot of stress, and with that builds the pressure to score more and get good grades. Parents should not ignore the signs of exam stress and instead recognize the anxiety, isolation, mood swings, depression, insomnia, headaches and more in children to avoid unfavorable situations.
#5. Set Goals
Acknowledge your child’s weak points and help him hone his positive skills and areas. Ask him or her to work on subjects he is less confident about and feels positive. Tell your child that failure is a part of life and everybody learns from their mistake, but one must work hard to avoid failure.
#6. Positive Environment
Give your child a positive and healthy environment where he can learn and study peacefully with no burden. Family tensions and arguments not only mount up the exam tension but also multiplies the stress which leads to mental disturbance, thereby affecting the results. Therefore, a good environment is quintessential during exams.
#7. Communicate
Parents can talk with their child, discussing the exams, syllabus, and revision. When you talk to a child, the exam pressure automatically atrophies as he or she trusts you that you will stand by him and accept the result no matter what.
The amount of pressure and exam tension is extreme during examinations. Failure is something which some children cannot bear and hence commit suicides. Parents must teach their kids to take exams seriously, but not the results as mere grades do not define the future of any person.
#1. Feel worried and study continuously without a break
#2. Eat immodestly and do not eat at all. Eating habits undergo a sea change.
#3. Do not sleep well; insomnia creeps in.
#4. Do not enjoy activities that are of their interest
#5. Feel distressed all the time and are scared of failure
#6. Go unwell, developing certain aches and pains
Children go the whole nine yards to achieve success, exerting themselves endlessly in vain, impacting their health and studies too. Given below are some of the ways in which parents can help kids while dealing with exam stress :
#1. Open Communication
Be friendly with your child, so that he or she feels free to share his views with you without being reluctant. Ask your child about exams and other things too to slacken off the exam pressure.
#2. Have Realistic Expectations
Do not expect too high of your child, this puts the child under a lot of exam tension, and he tries to study everything, thereby affecting his health. Tell him or her that you expect good results because of their endeavors they have put in. Also, drill into their minds that results do not make a future.
#3. Help Them Learn
Make them learn things, conduct their tests and enjoy by taking breaks in between and discuss his or her friends at school. When parents help children while indulging in fun, their exam stress is tapered off, and they do not feel a burdensome task lying on their desks to be completed.
#4. Be Calm And Composed
Being patient as Griselda can help your child in alleviating the exam pressure and exam tension. Stay cool, calm and collected. Children learn from their parents and if they see you anxious, they will go anxious and will panic in exams.
#5. Check Their Diet
Do not let your child skip meals; it can cause both hormonal and mental imbalance. A healthy diet can work wonders for your child, but if he or she skips meals regularly, they might feel sick and go on an unhealthy routine which can have serious repercussions.
A child must be encouraged so that he or she works well, do not feel scared and rather be full of conviction while attempting questions in examinations. If parents instill positive energy and prod their children through knowledge and constant support, children can sail through the exam stress and exam tension pretty easily. Parents can do the following things to encourage a child before an exam :
#1. Encourage Workout
Exercising and workout help in relaxing the body and you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. The lethargy is bound to surface during exam tension while the stress mounts up. But proper exercise and physical activity can help you become focused and increase your concentration power.
#2. Do Not Compare
Comparison of your child with others can dampen his spirits which can only add up to the exam stress and exam tension. If you prod him to do his or her work and appreciate the achievements, efforts, and accomplishments, the child gets motivated to work more and feels good.
#3. Let Them Tread Their Own Way
Do not pressurize your child to work according to you or your convenience. Ask them to move on their own and study according to their own plan and strategy which will give them a hope that they can succeed on their own terms.
#4. Be Flexible
Do not remain stagnant during the exams. A child gets affected by his or her environment. Once you try to be normal and flexible as usual, your child will do the same and won’t grind under the exam pressure. This will relax his or her mind and body as well.
#5. Share Your Own Experiences
Parents should share their experiences with their children so that they can learn from them and their mistakes. Tell them how you managed to breeze through the exams and overcome the phobia, this helps them to boost their morale. Parents must give an account of the lessons they learned when they failed.
Do you have opinions on how we can reduce the stress levels of children during examinations? Feel free to pitch in by telling us in the comments.
(Images Courtesy: 1. iDiv, 2.BBC, 3.Ginger Sport, 4.UCSF, 5. Singapore Motherhood,6. Huffington Post, 7. PBS 8. Parent Tune, 9. Nutrition Academy 10. Huffington post
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