Preparing Your Child for their Exams

**Collaborative post**

Unsurprisingly exam season can be one of the most stressful periods of a young person’s life. There is a lot of pressure applied to perform well in their tests and at school in general and sometimes this can become a bit too much for children. Everyone has different stress thresholds and deals with nerves or anxiety in different ways so it is important to be able to spot the signs in your children and provide help as soon as you can. 

So how can parents help calm exam nerves?

An independent college in London has pulled together the following advice to help you support your child’s exam revision including some tips and tactics on battling exam and results day nerves. 

A problem shared is a problem halved…

First things first, it is extremely important that your children learn how to accept and deal with their emotions and feelings rather than bottling them up or hoping that they go away on their own. Let them know that they always have someone to talk to whether it’s you, a friend or family member or even someone at the school. Most of the students at school will be in the same boat so try to encourage them to open up to their friends and not be embarrassed by their feelings. 

Remove the pressure

It’s easy for students to get worked up and start to believe that the exams they are about to sit are the be-all and end-all. While they are important and should be taken seriously there are always other options or resits to fall back on. Their health and happiness are more important than any grades so tell your children that as long as they try their best you will be proud of them. 

Keep an open mind

It’s completely natural for us all to want the best for our children and to encourage them to be the best people they possibly can. However, the path that you have planned out in your mind for your child might not necessarily be the one they want to take or the best one for them. Of course, it’s fantastic to motivate them to try their hardest but try to keep an open mind and be realistic with your expectations. 

So now we know how to help our children to deal with the emotional stresses around exams season what are the practical ways that we can help them? 

Make a plan and stick to it

Organisation and prioritisation are both vital when it comes to getting the most out of exam preparation. It’s a good idea to introduce a study timetable with regular revision sessions added to your child’s daily routine. Ensure they are revising little and often as far in advance as possible, don’t let them leave it to cram everything at the last moment. 

Get some zzzz 

8 hours sleep and a healthy balanced diet provide the basis for any productive day at school or study session. Get some early nights in and provide healthy nutritional snacks like fruit or vegetables to nibble on in study breaks. 

Add some fun 

It doesn’t all have to be so serious; in fact, adding some enjoyment and fun to your child’s exam preparation can actually improve the efficiency of their revision session. Invite a friend over so they can study together and introduce some fun competitions or games to make it less boring!