REDUCING EXAM STRESS OF CHILDREN
·
When examinations
are around the corner, stress, sleepless nights, panic and confusion accompany
them.
·
Here are simple
steps to help your children through this period.
1. Reaffirm your love
·
Children do not
really dread exams.
·
What scares them
is that they may hurt their loved ones by not measuring up to their
expectations.
·
Tell your
children that if they have given their best efforts, then whatever the result,
you will face it and continue to love them.
2. Don’t follow ‘expert advices’ blindly
·
During exam time,
there is a flood of expert advice on how students should sit, eat, sleep,
relax, study and carry on with life.
·
Parents may
follow dictums of such ‘experts’ blindly.
·
This takes away
spontaneous space from around children.
·
Advise them on a
healthy lifestyle, but give them freedom to decide how to follow it.
3. Encourage and highlight their
strengths
·
Your children
have their virtues and strong points, which we take for granted.
·
Instead, we
highlight their negatives in an attempt to improve them.
·
This backfires
and shatters a child’s self-confidence.
·
This can make
them anxious, angry and think of themselves as under-achievers.
·
Encourage and
highlight their strengths to fill them with confidence.
4. Promote initiative
·
Don’t force
targets, goals and study plans on your children.
·
Instead, give
them freedom to chalk out their own initiatives.
·
This helps them
be in control and positive.
·
They are then
able to pursue their studies peacefully.
5. Open communication
·
There will be
differences of opinion between you and the children on goals, time invested in
study and their daily routine.
·
Discuss these
issues openly, and explain what you feel.
·
Then, understand
their viewpoint and work out a mutually acceptable plan.
6. Make them comfortable with
competition
·
In our culture,
we often emphasise cooperation and empathy.
·
As a result,
students may feel scared of competing.
·
Unconsciously,
they feel that by competing, they are being aggressive.
·
Therefore, they
experience panic and guilt.
·
Tell your ward
that competing in a healthy manner is also a virtue.
7. Seek help from experts where
essential
·
Parents may
experience shame, or live in denial, if things go out of control as they find
it difficult to see their children in pain.
·
If you encounter
extreme behavioural changes, consult a psychologist.
·
There are some
children who feel extremely anxious, depressed and suicidal.
·
An expert’s help
can prevent their progression towards a crisis situation.