Exam anxiety is a common issue among children that can significantly impact their performance and overall well-being. As a parent, there are several strategies you can implement to support your child during these challenging times and help them manage their anxiety effectively. Here are five strategies to help your child deal with exam anxiety:
5 Strategies to help your child deal with exam anxiety:
- Establish a supportive and open environment
Create an open and supportive environment at home where your child feels comfortable expressing their concerns and fears about exams. Encourage open communication and validate their feelings, letting them know that it’s normal to feel anxious and stressed before exams (Orviss, 2023).
- Teach effective study habits
Help your child develop effective study habits and techniques that can boost their confidence and performance. Encourage them to create a study schedule. To break down the material into smaller chunks, and practice active learning strategies such as summarizing, teaching the material to someone else, or using mnemonic devices (Orviss, 2023).
- Promote a healthy lifestyle
Encourage your child to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious meals, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activity regularly. A well-balanced diet, adequate sleep, and regular exercise can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost overall well-being. Making it easier for your child to cope with exam pressure (Orviss, 2023).
- Encourage relaxation techniques
Teach your child relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, visualization, or progressive muscle relaxation to help them calm their mind and body when they feel overwhelmed by exam anxiety. Practising these techniques regularly can help your child manage stress more effectively. As well as improve their focus and concentration during exams (Orviss, 2023).
- Focus on effort and progress, not just outcomes
Shift the focus from grades and performance outcomes to effort, progress, and personal growth. Remind your child that exams are just one way to assess their knowledge and abilities and that their worth is not defined by their grades. Celebrate their efforts, improvements, and achievements, no matter how small, to build their confidence and resilience (Orviss, 2023).
By implementing these strategies and providing your child with the necessary support and guidance, you can help them navigate exam anxiety more effectively and empower them to perform their best during exams. Remember that every child is unique. So it’s essential to tailor your approach to suit your child’s individual needs and preferences.
If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue you can reach out here.
Yasmine Bonnici graduated in Nursing and also completed her Masters in Counselling. She has worked with victims of domestic violence, clients dealing with suicidal ideations, bereavement, separation and anxieties. She is currently working with Willingness Team as a counsellor seeing clients who would like to explore their own identity and deal with any surfacing issues.
Bibliography
Orviss, E. (2023) Supporting children through exam stress: Tips for parents, The Good Play Guide. Available at: https://www.goodplayguide.com/blog/exam-stress-tips-for-parents/ (Accessed: 14 March 2024).