With the board exams round the corner and the competition rising everyday, not just the students, but also the parents tend to get anxious. Parent’s anxiety adds to the nervousness of the kids. They often don’t realize that this might cause the children to panic and hence take some drastic step to avoid exams. It is important to make the home stress free and avoid anxiety when it comes to kids. It is the most important thing to do for your kids.
It is also important that you ensure they are well prepared for the upcoming exam. They need your support and patience to help them prepare for the exam. Reduce your work pressure during the exam season and try to be at home for the child, or atleast available on the phone when your kid needs you.
- Deal with the anxiety
If this is the first time your child is appearing for an exam they probably are very nervous and anxious about the exams. Lookout for any signs of anxiety, like changes in appetite, sleeping habits, or doing things they normally don’t. Be patient and encourage them to talk to you. Don’t force them to eat or do anything they don’t want to do. If you notice them crying or saying things like they are not prepared for the exams or don’t feel like appearing for the exam; then it is important that you calm them down. Assure them that you are there for them and that it is not a life issue. If the problem persists it is ok to take professional help for the safety of the kid.2.Ensure enough sleep
2. Ensure enough sleep
Children and parents both tend to lose sleep during the exam season. Ensure that they get eight hours of sleep before and during the exams. Create a regular bedtime. This is good for the child’s overall health and also ensures proper rest to the brain. Sleep is especially important a day before the exam. If your child prefers studying through the night, then make sure they take a nap during the day.
3.Understand their Subjects
Most parents think they know all the subjects as they have studied them in school. But, overtime the syllabus has changed and also you might not remember all of it. So go through the syllabus and try and understand what changes have been made. Always keep in mind that you are an elder and your child might take some time to understand the subjects. If needed get help from a senior student or a tutor.
4. A Fixed Place to Study
Make sure there is fixed place for your kid to sit and study. If they have their own room and a study table, it helps them concentrate better on studies. Also, they don’t have to wander around the house looking for a quiet place to study. Make sure their room is well lit and airy, so that they don’t feel claustrophobic as they will have to sit in one place for long.
5. Make A Time Table
We all have been there and made study time tables for ourselves. So encourage your child to create a time table for studies. It should include all the subjects giving priority to the subjects that your child is having trouble with. Revision is equally important, so set aside some time for revising all that they have studied. Include breaks also in between the time table.
6. Create and Use Study Tools
Study tools help learn and remember things easily. Help your child create flashcards for history dates, word meanings, formulas and theorems. They can also make charts to remember different environmental cycles. But make sure you create this well before the exams. So you can use them for revision also.
7. Encourage Independent Study
It is important to be by your child’s side when preparing for exams, but don’t make them totally dependent on you for studies. Because they won’t be able to cope with the stress when you are away. Self study and independent study is important no matter how young your child is. Encourage them to learn things on their own, create their own study tools solve previous question papers and seek your assistance when they have some doubts and difficulty in understanding.
8. Take Breaks
Breaks in between studying is equally important for the brain and body. Let them take a half hour break in between their study timetable. But ensure these breaks are relaxing like listening to some music or enjoying some reading time or just enjoying a cup of hot milk. The break time should not include screen time, or video games, etc. as they tend to remove focus from the brain. A breathing exercise is a good way to take a break and relax your child’s mind.
9. Avoid Distractions
Avoid all types of distractions during exams. TV, Games, etc should be avoided as much as possible. If you live in a joint family communicate with your family to keep the TV volume down and avoid disturbing the child. It may sound rude but politely ask your relatives to avoid visiting during the exams. As such visits distract the child.
10. Provide Healthy Snacks
Diet and food is very important for your child. Not just during the exams, but through out the year. Make sure to provide healthy food which includes all types pf protein, healthy fats, and vitamins. Try and avoid carbs and sugar, as your they slow your down and also reduce your concentration. Make sure to include Omega-3 in your child’s diet. Omega-3 is known to increase the blood flow to the brain and improve brain health. You can use a fish oil supplement, and also include healthy nuts like walnuts, almonds, etc. make healthy shakes that are not high on sugar. It is best to avoid junk food and it can bloat and make them sleepy.