It’s that time of the year when the anticipation about the summer vacation begins to build
up in children’s minds but the anxiety of final exams also take a toll on them. Well, exams
are unavoidable. The good news is that there are ways to help your children overcome exam
stress and fear.
Here are some useful tips:
1. Study Timetable
Usually, the final exams include the entire syllabus covered during the academic year. This
can get overwhelming for children and they might panic about not being able to finish the
course before exams. Help your children make a subject-wise study table with scope for
rejuvenation breaks and revision. A timetable will put their nerves at ease and make the
preparation for studies doable.
2. Healthy Eating and Exercise
Strangely, healthy eating and exercise are the most obvious things to do to keep stress at
bay, but most children don’t pay attention to it. Encourage your child to eat healthy foods
such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils, pulses and whole grains. Avoid giving them
junk and sugar. Ask them to do some form of exercise for 15-30 minutes a day for two
reasons – take a break from studies and make the mind more focused.
3. Study Buddy
A study buddy can liven up your children’s study sessions. If your children want to study
with a friend or classmate, let them do. It will help them to discuss the syllabus, clear their
doubts, and share their problems. However, a study buddy can become a distraction at
times if they get stuck in baseless conversations instead of concentrating on their studies.
Hence, make sure that study buddy sessions happen only a few times a week.
4. Spirituality
Your children may raise an eyebrow but spirituality can be beneficial in beating the final
exam stress. Your children can wake up 15 minutes earlier than they normally do and spend
that time doing meditation, saying positive affirmations, or praying to God. These activities
will put their worries at ease to a significant extent.
5. Professional Coaching
If you feel that your children are lagging in some subject or they are having trouble
understanding concepts, you can hire a tutor. Professional coaching can help them
understand their weak points in the subject and work on them. A tutor will also give them
practise exercises beyond the school textbooks and strengthen their grasp on that subject.
6. Sleep
While it is understandable that children need to cover a vast syllabus in a short period, they
should not compromise on their sleep. Make sure that your child sleeps at least 7-8 hours to
give adequate rest to mind and body. Improper or inadequate sleep can make them irritable
which can hamper their concentration.
Exams are a part and parcel of student life. However, by no means do they determine the
potential of your children. Let them take exams in their stride without worrying too much
about the marks.
