The exam time can be a stressful period for kids. They often feel overwhelmed and anxious, which can negatively impact their performance.

As a parent, guardian, teacher, or mentor, you can help kids manage their exam stress and improve their outcomes by offering them support and guidance. Here are ten practical ways to support kids during exam time:.

1. Create a Study Plan Together

Work together with the kids to create a specific study plan that caters to their learning needs and timetable.

A personalized study plan will enable kids to have clarity of the subject areas that require more attention and allocate enough time for each topic. A study plan not only ensures that kids are well-prepared, it also helps in breaking down revision into manageable, bite-sized pieces, thereby reducing their anxiety levels.

2. Provide a Distraction-free Study Environment

Ensure that the kids have a designated study space that is clean, comfortable, and free from distractions such as electronic gadgets, TV, and games.

Such a space helps kids get into the right study mood and focus solely on their schoolwork, which ultimately leads to better results.

3. Celebrate Milestones

Celebrate the completion of significant milestones with the kids. This could be the end of a particular chapter or the completion of a set number of revision hours.

Recognition of their effort goes a long way in motivating and encouraging kids to continue working towards their goals.

4. Provide Adequate Nutrition

Ensure kids are eating healthy meals and drinking enough water to keep them hydrated and focused.

Breakfast is a crucial meal that provides the energy necessary to start the day, so encourage your kids to eat a healthy breakfast before school and during exam periods. Eating healthy snacks, like nuts, fruits, and vegetables, during study breaks can also help boost their brainpower.

5. Encourage Regular Breaks

Regular breaks, preferably every 30-40 minutes, allow kids to recharge their energy levels and avoid burnout.

Encourage them to use this time to stretch their legs, take a short walk, or engage in some other physical activity that will help them relax and recharge before getting back to their studies.

Related Article Be a Study Buddy: Tips for Helping Children Prepare for Exams

6. Offer Emotional Support

During stressful times like exams, kids need to feel loved and supported. Let them know that you are proud of them and that they have your support no matter what happens.

Acknowledge their feelings of anxiety and offer words of encouragement, optimism and help to ease their stress levels. Listening patiently as they vent their frustration can help them feel heard and feel better about their challenges.

7. Minimize Distractions at Home

Reducing distractions at home is critical during the exam period. Homework, extracurricular activities and social events can add to the kids’ stress levels and leave them feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.

Find ways to reduce these distractions so they can focus solely on academics. For example, you can hire a tutor to offer homework help if you are unable to provide practical assistance or cancel any activities that clash with the study schedule.

8. Celebrate the Completion of Exams

Completing exams is an excellent achievement. Help your kids celebrate their hard work and recognize that the experience was a success, no matter how they did.

A little celebration or reward for their effort can also help break their exam stress and give them something to look forward to.

9. Encourage Adequate Sleep

Adequate sleep is vital for kids to perform optimally during exam periods. Help them get enough sleep by enforcing a regular bedtime routine.

Discourage them from engaging in stressful activities right before bedtime, and ensure the study environment is conducive to sleep.

10. Help Break Information Overload into More Manageable Tasks

The comprehensive nature of an exam’s syllabus tend to lead kids into feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Help them break down the information overload into more manageable tasks that they can handle.

This will help them avoid the panic caused by having too much content to cover within a limited time frame, which can negatively impact their performance.

Conclusion

During exam periods, the primary concern should be to reduce stress levels and improve kids’ quality of life. Adopting the above-listed practical ways is sure to reduce exam anxiety levels and improve their exam performance.

It is vital to remember that success isn’t solely dependent on exam scores, even if it’s an important metric for academic progress. It is essential to appreciate the process the kids undergo, recognize their efforts and use it in growing their passion for learning.