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How to Cope With Child’s Exam Stress | Tips for Parents

child psychiatrist in pune

Children are commonly affected by exam stress, but lately cases of parents visiting the clinic for their anxiety problems due to the kid's exam and performance has greatly increased.

It is a welcoming fact that parents are involved in their children's exams and academic performances, but this may not always have a positive effect on their children. In some cases, they are even more worried than their kids. Seeing their parents stressed can negatively impact the child's confidence, self esteem and performance.

Here are some parental tips to help your kid do better in exams:

Provide a comfortable space to learn

A comfortable learning space and secure atmosphere can make a great learning environment. It can boost the productivity in learning and help in revision. Ensure that there is sufficient light, the noise levels are low, and a comfortable desk and chair with necessary stationary.

Get them to teach you

You remember and retain the information more when you "teach" the topic than when you just read or listen. Similarly, one good way to help children understand what they are learning is to ask them to "teach"you. Ask them to pretend that they are the teacher. It can be a fun too.

Be supportive and encouraging

Studying may not always be fun or that easy, esp. for those children who face special learning difficulties; so praise them when they are working hard. threatening them to study will only add to their exam stress. Listen to them, reassure them, hug them; responding in this way can help relieve their stress. You may suggest them a practical solution but only after they've calmed down.

Encourage healthy lifestyle and daily routine

Make sure that the children are having sufficient sleep and rest. Mental and physical rest will also help them consolidate what has been learnt during the day. Restrict the use of screens, computers, television, phones to ensure peaceful sleep.
As it is difficult to concentrate on learning for long periods of time, ensure that your child is spreading out revision by taking short breaks in between.

Incentives and rewards

After studying and exams, It is healthy to reward children through fun sports, activities and hobbies which they enjoy rather than providing material rewards like food/sweets, video games, or "prizes".

Identifying your child’s best way of learning

It is crucial to know about your child's method of studying that he/she enjoys the best, and plan learning strategies around that. Some are kinaesthetic learners who like to learn via performing skills such as note taking and writing. They enjoy movement, touch and experiences. Such learners may find it hard to sit still and just read. Kinaesthetic children are usually creative and most of them find studying difficult.

Some children feel more stressed than others, regardless of how confident they are about the topic they’re studying.

If you feel that you're child is experiencing exam stress, it's important to try to remind them that this is only a small part of their life and It won't last forever.

Importantly, make your child feel that they are smart. No matter what has been said about him or her, or what the report card shows. Your kid has a very specific way of understanding the world and learning, and if you can tap into that, a whole new world can open up. Go discover the genius!


Dr. Pankaj Borade - Best Psychiatrist in Pune at Mind MattersDr. Pankaj Borade (M.D.Psychiatry) is a psychiatrist in Pune. He is a consultant at Mind Matters clinic and Ruby Hall Clinic Hospital in Pune City. More articles or information can be found at our website  or on our Facebook page. Contact at pankajborade@onlymindmatters.com

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