Parents have an important role to play for reducing exam stress in children. Read on to find tips for reducing exam stress.It is the often repeated and the most disliked advice to students that if you want to beat exam stress, study well. This is due to the fact that exam stress is found to usually occur to students who are inadequately prepared. But then the parents and teachers also should not overlook the fact that exams are a big deal for the students these days. They are aware of the reality and they will be evaluated with their grades and they must ensure that they attain good grades in their tests. It is the realisation of this fact that results in the pressure build up and then there are associative reasons that ensure its escalation to dangerous heights. Thus exam stress does not occur to ‘weak’ students alone and the very best fall victim to it. Exam stress is a reality for majority of the students and steps must be taken to counter it so that the performance remains unaffected. Exams should be comprehended as a part of student’s life and not a life-changing event. Just by inducing small differences in the regular physical and mental approach, exam stress can be battled successfully. Given below are a few tips for parents that can effectively reduce exam stress: In this articleEmphasize on a Healthy DietRegulate the Daily ActivityPsychological Approach for Reducing Exam StressEmphasize on a Healthy Diet Eating healthy is very important during exams. Controlling the thoughts that result in anxiety and stress might be difficult but the body can surely be prevented from behaving in a hostile manner and adding to the pressure. Diet is just a means to control it. The food choices over time, that is much before your scheduled exam date, need to be properly balanced. Parents should put emphasis on beginning the day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Skipping breakfast due to a fast schedule is a bad idea as it makes the body weak and concentration levels fall. Parents should make sure that their children have a healthy breakfast. Junk food must be totally shunned. They compromise on the desired nutrition and add just fat, salt and extra calories. Remember diet must always be balanced. But a little indulgence is not bad. A bowl of ice-cream or a packet of chips is acceptable in the evening if the kids had their share of adequate nutrition throughout the day. When kids have a desire of munching, snacking of fruit slices is a healthy option. A diet on corn or ‘Dalia’ is light and healthy and can prevent stomach discomfort. Regulate the Daily Activity The child should be encouraged to adopt a healthy routine as far as daily physical activity and rest is concerned; even more so during the exams. Stress build up induces the feeling of lethargy. Ensure that the child has adequate physical activity throughout the day. There should be planned exercise schedules, be it the form of regular workouts, an hour of outdoor games or dancing or swimming classes. This will reduce stress levels as the body will feel energised and mind relaxed at the same time. Similarly, make sure that the child has adequate rest too. Studying late night and simply staying awake or having a disturbed sleep cycle enhances stress as the body does not get the opportunity to reenergise itself. So steps should be taken to avoid such situations. If need be the problem should be approached on medical terms. Psychological Approach for Reducing Exam Stress As a part of reducing exam stress, there is a psychological approach as well. Psychological approach works in reference to regular habits. The child must be encouraged to feel comfortable and develop a positive approach. This will help him relax, boost the self confidence and the mind will be increasingly alert. It will help him in charting out a proper study plan, follow it and concentrate on his lessons and revisions. He will have a clear mind to assess his condition and take steps to improve it if need be. All these efforts will have a positive impact in beating exam stress. A constant support from parents will make children feel secure and comfortable and in a better position to discuss their difficulties which can in turn be handled and solved by the parent. The emotional baggage will be less and the mind more clear. Another tip to beat exam stress is not to give importance to exams more than it deserves. Remember the child also needs time to relax and the entertainment hour is as important for his relaxation as the exam hour. So help the child to unwind in a way that he prefers. Keep them at ease. Talk to them to boost their self confidence. Stress will automatically take a backseat.
Parents have an important role to play for reducing exam stress in children. Read on to find tips for reducing exam stress.It is the often repeated and the most disliked advice to students that if you want to beat exam stress, study well. This is due to the fact that exam stress is found to usually occur to students who are inadequately prepared. But then the parents and teachers also should not overlook the fact that exams are a big deal for the students these days. They are aware of the reality and they will be evaluated with their grades and they must ensure that they attain good grades in their tests.
It is the realisation of this fact that results in the pressure build up and then there are associative reasons that ensure its escalation to dangerous heights. Thus exam stress does not occur to ‘weak’ students alone and the very best fall victim to it.
Exam stress is a reality for majority of the students and steps must be taken to counter it so that the performance remains unaffected. Exams should be comprehended as a part of student’s life and not a life-changing event. Just by inducing small differences in the regular physical and mental approach, exam stress can be battled successfully. Given below are a few tips for parents that can effectively reduce exam stress:
Emphasize on a Healthy Diet
Eating healthy is very important during exams. Controlling the thoughts that result in anxiety and stress might be difficult but the body can surely be prevented from behaving in a hostile manner and adding to the pressure. Diet is just a means to control it. The food choices over time, that is much before your scheduled exam date, need to be properly balanced. Parents should put emphasis on beginning the day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Skipping breakfast due to a fast schedule is a bad idea as it makes the body weak and concentration levels fall. Parents should make sure that their children have a healthy breakfast.
Junk food must be totally shunned. They compromise on the desired nutrition and add just fat, salt and extra calories. Remember diet must always be balanced. But a little indulgence is not bad. A bowl of ice-cream or a packet of chips is acceptable in the evening if the kids had their share of adequate nutrition throughout the day. When kids have a desire of munching, snacking of fruit slices is a healthy option. A diet on corn or ‘Dalia’ is light and healthy and can prevent stomach discomfort.
Regulate the Daily Activity
The child should be encouraged to adopt a healthy routine as far as daily physical activity and rest is concerned; even more so during the exams. Stress build up induces the feeling of lethargy. Ensure that the child has adequate physical activity throughout the day. There should be planned exercise schedules, be it the form of regular workouts, an hour of outdoor games or dancing or swimming classes. This will reduce stress levels as the body will feel energised and mind relaxed at the same time.
Similarly, make sure that the child has adequate rest too. Studying late night and simply staying awake or having a disturbed sleep cycle enhances stress as the body does not get the opportunity to reenergise itself. So steps should be taken to avoid such situations. If need be the problem should be approached on medical terms.
Psychological Approach for Reducing Exam Stress
As a part of reducing exam stress, there is a psychological approach as well.
Psychological approach works in reference to regular habits. The child must be encouraged to feel comfortable and develop a positive approach. This will help him relax, boost the self confidence and the mind will be increasingly alert. It will help him in charting out a proper study plan, follow it and concentrate on his lessons and revisions. He will have a clear mind to assess his condition and take steps to improve it if need be. All these efforts will have a positive impact in beating exam stress.
A constant support from parents will make children feel secure and comfortable and in a better position to discuss their difficulties which can in turn be handled and solved by the parent. The emotional baggage will be less and the mind more clear. Another tip to beat exam stress is not to give importance to exams more than it deserves.
Remember the child also needs time to relax and the entertainment hour is as important for his relaxation as the exam hour. So help the child to unwind in a way that he prefers. Keep them at ease. Talk to them to boost their self confidence. Stress will automatically take a backseat.
