**Collaborative post**
Exam periods is a highly stressful time for young people, who often feel overwhelmed and anxious. Many teenagers find it difficult to deal with the mounting pressure to perform well. As a parent, it’s crucial that you put your best foot forward in helping reduce this pressure and encourage your teen to feel more confident and better prepared. Here are some top tips from a Hertfordshire private school.
Leading up to your child’s exams, focus on being as positive and optimistic as possible to boost their spirits. Tell them how proud of them you are for the effort they’re putting in, but also encourage them to take regular study breaks. The motto “little and often” is important in this instance and a lot more beneficial than long sluggish hours with no time to relax or socialise. Encourage your child to start their revision in advance and consider helping them to put together a revision timetable so that they can focus on subject areas that they might find a little harder. You should also ensure that they factor in some downtime within their schedule so that they have a chance to de-stress and think about other things.
If you want to help your child with their learning, it’s worth getting an understanding of their learning style. This will allow you to take a suitable approach. For instance, auditory learners tend to work better when chatting through their notes and reading aloud. Visual learners, on the other hand, may prefer to draw out diagrams and incorporate various colours. Try and establish their learning style and test out appropriate revision techniques to see how they respond.
Keep a watchful eye on your child and ensure there are no distractions whilst they are revising, as this will only result in panic right before the exam. Help them set up a quiet, tidy study area where there are no TVs or video games etc. You should also ask them to leave their phones on silent or in another room so that they don’t start browsing social media.
If you have concerns regarding your child during exam period and how well they are coping, it might be worth discussing the issues with a professional, like a teacher, for additional support. What’s more, it might be a good idea to employ a private tutor to help your child with their studying. Both public and independent schools usually offer study groups to help, so this might be something else to consider.
