Are you actually helping them to cope up with the examination stress or adding to it ? Yes, the exam time is stressful for children and parents and managing this pressure effectively is of paramount importance…
Studies show that stress can affect memory . It reduces our ability in storing ideas, which means some students will struggle to perform at their best during exams.
Pune365 spoke to experts to seek their advise on managing this stress and being supportive as a parent.
“Being positive about the outcome is most important factor.” says Dr. Manish Bajpayee, Psychiatrist. Many children and parents face exam stress because of the fear of performance and of results.
This often results from lack of confidence or expectations and pressure to excel. Parents should not panic and talk about the worst-case scenarios or else this will lead to low scores.
Understand that your child has a limit and will only able to perform to the best of his/her ability. Accept their limitations. As a thumb rule don’t compare, not even if their sibling is a class topper.
“Trust your child and observe what is best for them, as every child is different.” Bajpayee adds.
“Focus on the here and now. Ensure conversations during this time are pleasant and different, rather than centred around the board results and its consequences, “says Vidhya Thakur, Child Psychologist.
Parents should not have over the top-expectations. Parents should always be affectionate, supportive, and be a study partner in their academics and keep things in perspective. They must listen to them, give support and avoid criticism. Before your child enter the examination hall, parents must be reassuring and positive.
‘Don’t hurry or worry your child, You understand his ability and hence do not push him/ her beyond that. Make a revision format or timetable for children to study so that they feel confident to implement the same. Success is different to everyone; celebrate whatever success your child achieves, she adds.
Purnima Shetty, Nutritionist says, “The best way to de-stress is to eat healthy. Green vegetables, fish and nuts are good brain food. Consume green salads and avoid burgers, chicken lollipops, noodles and deep-fried stuff.” To boost memory, one must eat berries, whole eggs, fruits and fish like salmon.
Ensure that during exams you are not giving them a diet which consist of lot of sugar and salt, as these may reduce their focus and concentration.
Pallavi Kamalpure, Housewife says, “Board exams are a shared responsibility between parents and child. Everyone in the family ensures that we eliminate fear from our child’s mind and do not contribute to it. We have not set any specific expectations from him.
I know my child well and understand him.
I make sure that he is sleeping well, eating adequately and exercising daily, as these three factors help alleviate stress levels.
We don’t force him to study. Learning is about absorbing, and that can only happen if the child is sufficiently relaxed and rested. she adds.
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