School life is full of exams and tests which give a lot of stress to both students and parents. With our rigid educational system and social pressure, it seems to only get worse. Trust me our kids are more precious than a few marks cards, degrees and social credits. So let’s try to help them. The exam stress can be reduced for students by parents, teachers, friends etc. Children’s may show few signs if you watch for these sign you can help the children’s facing stress.
> Worries a lot.
> Feel tense
> Gets lots of headache and stomach pain.
> Not sleeping well.
> Not eating or eating more than normal.
> Irritating and low in mood.
> Seem hopeless about the future.
> Seem negative.
These listed behavioural traits are related to stress and anxiety, are commonly seen in children and teens. Not necessarily in any particular order or everyone will be showing all or some traits with individually unique ways. Stress can be solved always when there is someone around them to ease the pressure of the exam and other social anxiety. Talk always with an open mind and trust on your children, then only they will feel safe to approach you when they are in need. let us discuss a few habitual ways we can encourage a healthy environment for children’s emotional well-being.
Make sure your child eats well; A balanced diet is important for your child’s health, reduce the usage of high fat, high sugar intake and high caffeine food (such as cola, sweets, chocolates, burger and chips). But most of the Indian parents choose to good old yelling to make them eat healthily, children’s get more frustrated of that. Stop yelling in any manner be polite and kind towards them. Encourage them into a healthy lifestyle by yourself choosing it in the first place. EAT HEALTHY!
Help your child get enough sleep; As per studies average sleep a child should get is of 10 to 12 hours. During the exam period, some teens don’t sleep the whole night and they prepare for exams. They don’t get sleep because of exam stress. When we sleep, the brain goes into a stage of recovery which in turn helps in memory and logical reasoning, which is important to perform in a written test. And always have the patience and trust to give them break even between the preparations of the hectic exams so they can do some relief with what they enjoy as leisure, again don’t yell at them if they taking more time. Explain to them politely sleep is more important.
Help them to study; Making a time table for revision always helps, every child is different so parents should observe which way their children like. Talk to them about revision portion by portion if they say they feel difficulty with any, help them out. Give them your idea to make charts, drawing or give them a practice test paper (model papers). Motivate them, remind them about their goal in life and so on. Support them talk with them. Tell them it is natural to feel nervous about exams but to use that nervousness positively will give them a positive result. Exercising help release stress and anxiety. Let them add their favourite hobby like music, painting, gaming into the timetable. Scientifically proven that listening to favourite music help reduce stress. Break-time during studies is important. Parents can ask them for a break and they can use it get some relax hours.
Don’t add to the pressure; Most of the children’s get stress of exam because of families, more than studies. Never complaint your child to another child. Avoid using words like,” she does well”, “Perform like him”, “They are lucky to have a talented child” and so on. Never appreciate other children in front of yours, children’s get demotivated by this actions. Instead appreciate your child in front of others, Motivate them. After each exam try to talk with them, talk about the part which they studies and they wrote it well rather than focusing on the question. Tell them to focus on the next exam more. Exam treat is a small bit which parents can celebrate after the exam finishes. A few hugs and acknowledge them for total dedication for exams. Some children don’t get over exam anxiety until results. Parents of such children have to give continues comfort, take them to a new place, a small picnic or a tour. Let them do the activities they like. By this, they will get little comfort.
After doing all the needful things you are failing, that is the time you go for professional help for your child. There is nothing wrong in taking your kid for emotional help, mental health is real and it can be treated like any other illness. This article is not to be considered as a professional tool, I am sharing my experiences and curated opinions of different experts. Hope this will give you a reality check on your ways and practices for your kids well being.
Parenting ConFusion 