The exams are coming and this is the time when parents feel extreme pressure. I would say that the parents never feel pressure like this in their academic years, and yeah it’s true. This happens because of lots of circumstances and that is another topic for discussion but here we are to just get guidance so parents can cope with their child’s exam stress.
Many parents have said that they feel anxiety and a different level of stress when it comes to the exam and they never knew what to do with this stress and anxiety. They are continuously stressed about the scoring and their child’s performance.
Here are some topics to discuss with you that will definitely help you during this tough time.
The trap of stress:
Stresses are of two types, one is distress which affects negatively and it is actually very harmful for a person. It kills productivity and if continues leads to depression.
The second is eustress, which affects us positively and energizes us, motivate to grow from our comfort zone.
There is a huge difference between these two. This means that if you regulate your stress toward positivity then it creates a great impact on us and that is the reason to know about your stress.
Ask yourself if your stress leads you to productivity or drains out your energy.
Parents’ stress also transfers to the child and in that scenario a child feels suffocated. The pressure that the child faces makes him more stressed, anxious, and hopeless, and it directly affects the child’s performance. We can say that a child even can not perform to their potential and lose their confidence and self-esteem which may stay forever even in adult life.
Stress Management Techniques:
Learn about stress management and also teach your child to cope with exam stress.
Introduce techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness to help your child manage stress during high-pressure situations.
These will save both you and your child from the negative impact of stress.
Open Communication:
Communication is a versatile tool for parenting and when it comes to the difficult conversation it plays a pivotal role. Through healthy communication you can dig deep into child’s minds, their fear, problems they are facing, obstacles, and everything that bother them.
Create a supportive environment where your child feels comfortable discussing their concerns and fears for exams. And for that communication helps you the most.
Listen to them first without being judgemental and give them support so they can gain confidence in this tough situation.
Encourage them by showing them their ability and their potential which will help to gain their confidence and self-esteem.
Set Realistic Expectations:
Our children carry the burden of our unrealistic expectations. Parents mostly compare their children with other children. Parents always find that one ‘Sharma ji ka beta’, who always gets the first grade, and finds all the qualities that they want in their child.
Every child is unique and has their unique ability, so stop comparing them with other children, especially in the study.
Your action may drop their confidence level and increase their mental health problems. A child starts to develop inferiority and lose self-esteem, which will continue in their adult life.
Even continuous comparison may develop emotional distance between you and your child.
We can take the example of our generation where the last bencher is a successful businessman and that girl who was not good at maths is now pursuing her career in dancing. The child who seems dumb is now successful in their life.
What should we do?
We are concerned about their future and that is damn true, but when you set a goal for your child please take a look at their capability and their interest.
First, set a realistic goal according to your child’s potential. The goal must be achievable for your child, your unrealistic goal may scare your child and create tension for the exam and reluctantness for study.
Help them to set achievable goals and understand that perfection is not the goal. Emphasize the importance of effort and learning.
Praise your child’s efforts instead of the result, and this is not only for study. Always give them praise to develop positive reinforcement behavior.
Give them your mentoring and motivate them to achieve that goal.
Remember that every child is unique and so their goal is.
Establish a Routine:
Routine is the best way to achieve certain goals and to make routine parents have to teach them about time management.
Develop a consistent study schedule to help reduce last-minute cramming and create a sense of stability.
Apply different study techniques like POMODORO, PARETO, FREYNMANN, and MIND MAPPING whichever helps your child be more productive and to achieve goals.
Encourage Breaks:
Our brain needs a break after some brainstorming work and it starts to distract from the task. To deal with the distraction add a break which gives your child time to chill for a while.
It could be anything, walking to the nearby park, meeting with friends, doing any favorite hobby, or for a while watching their favorite TV show.
Breaks are essential for concentration. Encourage short breaks during study sessions to refresh the mind and reduce stress.
Breaks will help your child cope with the stress and they feel relaxed after study.
By doing this you encourage your child to do better concentrated study.
Healthy Lifestyle:
Your child gives its best when they are healthy, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.
And for that include a healthy lifestyle, getting enough sleep, having a proper meal, staying physically active, doing some yoga and pranayam or any kind of physical exercise they like to do.
Adding physical exercise to their routine helps their body to reduce cortisol, a stress hormone that directly affects their mood and their cognitive strength.
Having play dates with parents is also a better option as it is a better way to build a strong connection with your child along with physical activity.
A balanced lifestyle contributes to better cognitive function.
Celebrate Small Wins:
Acknowledge and celebrate achievements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement boosts confidence and motivation.
It is proven that positive reinforcement boosts behavior and cognitive health and it is for sure that parent always want their child to be confident, great self-esteemed, and successful.
Be a Role Model:
We are the first role models of our children, Children don’t do what we ask for but they do what they see. And that is the technique to instill some good values and habits into them.
Demonstrate a healthy attitude towards challenges and setbacks. Show resilience and perseverance in your own pursuits.
Showing them the hard work and dedication towards the work we do will automatically instill a positive attitude in children.
Support, Don’t Pressure:
Many times all that our children need is our support. When we give them compassion and unconditional love, they will be the better version of their past.
They learn about their responsibility and start to act accordingly.
Offer support without putting them under pressure.
Accept them for who they are and love them unconditionally. Let your child know you’re there to help, not to add to their stress.
See their condition through their perspective and you will notice how much they love you and what they ask for from us is just our love and support.
Know When to Seek Help:
After knowing about this all and following every step, there are still chances that your child is suffering from stress and anxiety on the next level.
Be aware of signs of excessive stress or anxiety.
If they lose a total interest in studying or make themselves distant from their friends and family members means it is a sign to see the doctor.
If needed, seek professional guidance from teachers, counselors, or mental health professionals.
It would be the biggest help for your child and you.
Remember, the goal is to create an environment where learning is valued, and exams are seen as a part of the learning process rather than an undefeatable challenge.
This is just a little exam and it is not the final one.
Our goal is to make our children prepare for the challenges that will come in their lives and the academic exams are playing a little part of it.
Our next goal is to prepare them for their life so they will live their life fully and happily.
Conclusion
I hope this article may give you all the insight that you need, but we still want to hear from you for any query that may we miss out on. So, please feel free to ask your question in the comment section it is valuable for us.
Thank you for reading this article. I request you to share with parents who are undergoing the stress of their child’s study.
Thank you once again.
Happy Parenting.
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My child is in standard 9 and she is in stress about facing board exams from now.
Sometimes feeling helpless but your article gives me a little clarity which will help me.
Thankyou for your support.
I’m glad that my words helped you. You are always welcom as our community is ready to help parents