The exam period can be a daunting time for children as the culmination of all their hard work over the last few years. It’s normal to feel stressed, and perhaps a little overwhelmed. As such, it’s important for children to have a good support network around them to help them manage stress and achieve their potential in their exams. To help you support your child, here are some tips from a sixth form in Hertfordshire.
Encourage healthy habits
Aside from their studying, it’s important for children to get regular exercise, and eat and sleep well while they’re revising and preparing for exams. Encourage them to get outside in the fresh air as much as possible and exercise frequently, even if it’s just going for a walk or playing a game of football in the park.This will help maintain their energy levels, as will eating a healthy diet low in sugary foods. Make sure they’re sticking to a consistent sleep schedule as well – if they’re tired they’ll find it hard to stay motivated when revising and it might also negatively impact on their performance in exams.
Create a realistic revision schedule
Devising a realistic and achievable revision timetable will help your child manage their stress levels. Help them break their studying down into manageable chunks that will help them get to where they need to be for the exams. Divide each day up into blocks of time they can dedicate to specific topics – this will help your child see that they can fit everything in as long as they stick to the schedule, which will limit stress. Make sure you incorporate time for relaxation, exercise and socialising so your child doesn’t burn out.
Ensure they have a dedicated study space
Your child will need a quiet, distraction-free space to study in. If they don’t have their own room, try and find a quiet corner of the house they can revise in, or if necessary they could go to a local library or community space. Remove any potential distractions such as TVs or computer games so they don’t get sidetracked.
Support them mentally
Make sure your child knows that you’re there for them if they ever want to talk about any concerns, or to help them work through problems. Look out for the signs they might be feeling overwhelmed or anxious and talk it through with them; if necessary enlist the help of a friend, family member or even a teacher who can discuss how they’re feeling with them.
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