By Denise Walker, CA Director of Counseling
Midterms are just around the corner. Is your family ready for exam season? Do you know how to navigate that thin line between encouraging your child and creating excess anxiety? This could be the first time your child encounters this kind of stress. Being well prepared for the exam is the best way to reduce anxieties over testing.
The stress of exams can affect the entire family. Are you wondering what you can do to help your child through this strenuous time? Remember you have the help and support of your child’s teacher and they will ensure students have all the information they need to be successful.
There are things you can do to help support your child during this demanding time. You can show support early on, by providing encouragement. Talk to your child about nerves and realistic expectations. Creating a study plan can help alleviate stress, maybe even modifying chore schedules to enable more study time. This will also help prevent cramming! Students should focus on the areas that need the most attention.
It is also important to help your child create a study environment that is conducive to studying. Minimize distractions, such as the television or cell phones, while studying is helpful. Listening to background music is also helpful for some students. Don’t get too comfortable; a bed is for sleeping, not studying. Studying also requires the correct attitude, do what works for your family and encourage confidence.
Students should space out studying over a week or longer, and continually review class material, until the exam. Let your child know you are there in the background ready and willing to help!
You can help the morning of the exam by ensuring they are up on time, and they have a healthy breakfast! Encourage brain foods, such as bananas. Wish them well.
When the test is over, don’t let your child dwell on if they did well or not. It is important to help your child move their focus to the next exam.
Be sure to take care of yourself in the process. Remember to celebrate the wins!