Reducing Exam Stress in Young Children

With standardised testing and exams becoming the norm for children as young as 6 in some schools, it is no surprise to the average parent that we have seen an increase in ‘exam stress’ in young children. Symptoms of exam stress have been known to include stomach aches, acting out, irritability or withdrawal. As a parent, it can be difficult to assist your child with the growing demands of the school curriculum and, at the same time, nurture their growth as a young human being, learning to cope with modern society. Whilst there is no foolproof method, being open with your child in a number of ways can alleviate some of this stress and help them perform better at school.

 

Find Out What is Making your Child Feel Nervous

Perhaps it is a particular concept in their mathematics class or, maybe, it’s a particular skill set that they haven’t quite mastered, such as answering longer response questions, that is making them feel nervous. Having their concerns out in the open can sometimes provide the biggest relief for both you and your child. In this way, your child is able to express their feelings and you, the parent, are given the opportunity to provide comfort and a study plan that will reduce this stress.

 

Study Strategies

Although the schooling system is set up in a set, structured manner, it is important to understand that every child learns in a different way. Understanding how your child absorbs information is key to helping them thrive in a learning environment. Allowing your child to walk around the room, use visual cues, such as cards or posters, or repeat information out loud can help them prepare for an exam. For example, if your child is a visual learner and is studying for a spelling test, it may help to provide them with pictures of that word, to look for patterns within the shapes of the letters, or to look for words within words (such as ‘hat’ in ‘that’). By helping your child master a variety of methods to help them study for exams, you will find that they feel more confident in their ability to recall that information in an exam situation.

 

Preparing Step-by-Step

Last minute ‘cramming’ is a detrimental habit to develop at such a young age, particularly with children who already find testing a stressful process. Set them up with a good study schedule by using a monthly calendar. Add in realistic goals, working backwards from the final exam date. For example, if you know that your child has a test on their ‘Four Times Tables’ at the end of the week, work on practising the first six one day, then the next six the day after. From the Wednesday until the morning of the test, review all twelve ‘Four Times Tables.’ This will allow your child to feel more prepared, and have more time to revise.

 

Practice Tests

A child’s fear of the unknown can sometimes block their judgement and reasoning on exam day. By using practice tests, your child can learn to feel comfortable with the format of a test, and with the style of questions that may be asked. This will give them the time to practice and to ask you questions. Speak to your child’s teacher to see if there are any sample quizzes available.

As well as this, ensuring that your child understands how to answer certain styles of questions is also a great way to determine where they need extra assistance. What does the question ask of the child? Do they need to circle something, write in a single word answer or write a whole paragraph? Teaching your child to read a question carefully, and to then make sure they understand what it is asking of them, is a vital skill. Teach them not to rush through each question, or just answer based on key words they notice in the question. It is important to take a deep breath, look for the key ‘Question Words’ (Who, What, When, Where, Why and How?) and then answer the question.

 

Beyond the Test Content

Whilst parents today are wary of ‘wrapping their children up in cotton wool,’ it is important that a child has the confidence in themselves to take on an exam, no matter how daunting a task it may seem. Being reminded how much they have prepared, and of how much their skills have improved, as well as being praised for the effort that they have put in, can help them feel calmer and, therefore, perform better. Even more importantly, knowing that they have the support of you, the parent, and their teacher or tutor, can boost their confidence. Having that reassurance is sometimes all they need to walk into an exam with clarity.

As well as this, a good night’s rest (preferably without too much screen time) and a good meal are vital to reducing any unnecessary stress before an exam.

Overall, this may seem like a daunting task but, as the demands of an exam performance only increase in schools from year to year, your child will thank you for instilling these practices in them early.

 

Is your child feeling the pressures of exams? Are you a parent and feeling the exam stress too? Feel free to contact us to see how we can help.

by Nicole G, private home tutor