It’s getting to the pointy end of the year for students looking to graduate… here’s how you can help them out
Exam season can be really stressful for many students, especially for those looking to graduate this year.
Emotions can be running high, or even low, as students are looking to map out what the next few years of their lives look like from graduation.
As a parent or guardian, you may be unsure about what you can do to help them, or maybe you’re looking for confirmation that you’re on the right track.
Whatever the case may be, you’ve come to the right place for our top 5 tips around things you can do to help during an anxiety-inducing time.
Give them space
This could be considered contradictory, if you’re trying to support your teen, you would think that being close would be the first tip.
Just as sometimes adults need some time away from pressures, your teen does too.
Sometimes, you may not intend to be, but you can represent extra pressure on students during exam stress times by sticking too close, or checking in constantly.
If your teen is telling you they need the space, you should respect their wishes, even if you feel like being close will be better for them.
Encourage healthy habits
It can be easy for some students to bury their head in prep, forgetting to take breaks and to take care of themselves.
As a parent/guardian, you can assist them in remembering to keep up healthy habits like eating and drinking healthy, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep. You could even become a workout buddy! Go on a walk with them every now and then
In addition to keeping a generally healthy routine, these things will improve a student’s performance when it comes to test time.
Celebrate the little achievements
Remembering phrases without looking at flashcards, improving on a practice test or even just having a good day at school, be there for those small joys!
Celebrate them as you would a great test score, giving a mood boost can be a great way to help during exam season.
Check-in with them about their future plans
It’s important to remind them that if they don’t get their desired results that’s okay!
There are plenty of other pathways to a fulfilling and successful career, and checking in about what their plan B is may be a good thing. Maintaining a bit of perspective on what the exams mean to your teen could help stop them from spiralling after receiving a bad score.
Create a study timetable
Your teen should receive a timetable with info about when their exams are on from the school, but you should sit down with them and create a home study timetable.
This can help them make sure they’re on track for getting everything they need done before their exams (so as to avoid the late-night cramming sessions), and it can also help you understand when they are focusing in order to create a quiet study environment.
It can also help with our other tip of giving them space, as they can regulate themselves to make sure they are on track.
Still need some more tips to help during exam season?
Check out this article from The Conversation about how you can stand by your teen during their exams.
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