Want Your Child to Excel in Their Exams? Here’s How You Can Help

Examinations are a stressful time for children as well as their parents. The spirit of competitiveness can be healthy but students need to find a balance between studying and rest, especially during the exam season. Studies have shown that the effects of battling acute stress early on in life include lasting behavioural and mental health damage. If your child is about to appear for examinations, here are seven things you can do for them to help them give it their best.

1. Be Involved

You can be a part of their study process by becoming their support system. Most children create schedules and timetables to follow during exams. Make sure that these schedules they follow aren’t affecting their rest and eating habits. They may not realise it, but you need to help them avoid unhealthy habits. Also, don’t nag them if they’re taking a break, just keep a track, and let them know when they are transitioning from breaks to procrastination.

2. Give Them Enough Leeway

Some children study well through the night while others prefer an early morning to begin their lessons. Some children also tend to listen to music whilst studying, let them. It is important to let them be comfortable and follow their natural disposition. Just make sure they get enough rest through the day if they prefer studying at night. Do not impose your timings, or inclinations on them as they’ll not only resent it but also will not be able to give their best.

3. De-stress Yourself

It is natural for you to feel a little stressed and anxious during your child’s exams. However, as you might know, children feed off energies around them. So it’s important that you’re in a positive frame of mind too. Meditate, exercise, eat well and get plenty of rest. Just make sure your child doesn’t see you stressed around them. Currently, they have bigger fish to fry.

4. Help Your Child De-stress

Monitor your child for any indications of stress. Keep nutritious food and snacks handy for them. Make sure they get enough sleep. Also, try to reduce their time with screens – laptops and phones tire the eyes. Having said that, do give them breaks and allow them to relax, maybe encourage more offline breaks. Also, if possible do practice some meditation techniques with your child to help rest their minds.

5. Talk to Them About Success and Failure

Children want to impress you and get your approval. Therefore, it is important to initiate a healthy conversation about succeeding and the possibilities of failing in the exams. This is a good time to let them know that the outcome of the exams does not change your affection and respect towards them. Children may not understand this themselves, but the pressure of not disappointing one’s parents can be quite harsh.

6. Create a Conducive Atmosphere

Constant bickering, nagging, complaining, snarky remarks, arguments and regular interruptions can stress your child out and distract them from their goals. Give them their space and some peace and quiet. Avoid playing loud music or watching TV around their revision time. You need to be considerate towards them during this time.

7. Seek Help

Dealing with children can be difficult sometimes, and seeking professional help can be quite helpful. If need be, seek out a therapist for them. They will help your child through their issues in a professional manner. You could also get in touch with our career counsellors for all their career-oriented questions. With numerous new careers taking off, your child has a lot of options based on their interest and they must know that.

While these were a few pointers of what you should do, here’s a list of things that you absolutely should not do when your child is preparing for their exams:

1. Don’t make them think their life depends on the outcome of these examinations. Children have different skills and with new-age offbeat careers and creative careers, they can surely find something they’d love to do.
2. Don’t mention the money you are spending on their courses. It could make them nervous and put them under unnecessary pressure.
3. Comparison is a huge no-no. Don’t compare your child to their siblings or their peers, it has adverse effects on their mental health.
4. Avoid bribing your children into giving their best. They should know to work hard without always being enticed by external motivators.
5. Children are far more trustworthy than we give them credit for. Don’t micromanage them as that is bound to lead to conflict and resentment.
6. Don’t expect too much from them. Be realistic as you know your child’s academic prowess. If they have been an average student throughout, their interests may lie elsewhere.

Examinations bring in a lot of pressure and stress, especially for children. Preparing for them is something they need to learn to tackle on their own. You just need to be their strongest support system and ensure that you and your child are physically and mentally healthy to do that.

Through Mentoria, students can develop their confidence, self-awareness, and communication skills. Our psychometric assessments can help students to learn more about their personality traits, interests, and values, which can help in career choices. And through our workshops for employees and career guidance and counselling for their children, we’re on a mission to transfrom lives of our future leaders from clutter to clarity, one aspirant at a time.