Exams can be a stressful time for a student and parents as well. It is natural to feel anxious before and during exams. Although some amount of stress is necessary for good performance as experienced by athletes and sportsmen, we need to keep an eye out for signs that the amount of stress stays within limits and is not detrimental. We at St. Mary’s, the best school in Kalyan, are extremely conscious of our students’ mental health and advocate a no-stress philosophy. Here are some pointers for parents to help your child sail through tense times with ease.
- If you are feeling anxious about your child’s performance in exams, please do not let the child feel it. Let them know that you love and appreciate them irrespective of their marks.
- Encourage your child to prepare a study timetable and keep checking intermittently if they are sticking to the timetable to help ease preparation.
- Provide support not advice. Advice can be seen as insensitive and dictating when to study will communicate that you do not trust them. Trust your child’s judgement on how much and when he/ she needs to study.
- Make the ambience at home conducive to studying. If living in a joint family, ask everyone to turn down the volume of the Television, cut out on social gatherings and promote healthy eating during exam times.
- Discuss and set limits to gadget use especially during exams. Ensure the child uses the internet for study purposes and during breaks advise meeting friends personally instead of being online.
- Encourage physical activity or some sport to release energy.
- Be open when the child comes to you for help. Merely saying that their feelings are common can sound dismissive. Offer reasonable amount of help.
- Encourage your child to take breaks, sleep and eat healthy during exam times and keep an eye out for changes in mood, appetite and sleep patterns.
Hope these points help you and your child as a guide for coping with exam stress.