Aspiring for your child’s academic excellence? Implement these strategies!

Butterflies in the stomach, tossing in the bed and not to forget, the over-chewed nails, well, you guessed it right – it is the final 24 hours before the exam. This is an extremely crucial time and requires great parental support. No matter how well-prepared a child is, these last few hours can be unnerving. It is, therefore, very important that a parent does the bit to soothe the frayed nerves and give the child the much-needed boost to head into the examination hall with confidence. As a first step, recognise that exam anxiety is normal and not something to be unduly worried about.

Exam anxiety often stems from the fear of failure as children often make the mistake of tying their self-worth to the outcome of an exam. However, a little pressure can be good as it motivates children to learn their lessons earnestly. But too much pressure can have the exact opposite effect. Lot of anxiety, especially on the night before and the morning of the exam, can cause the child’s brain to completely blank out when he/she sits down to write the exam! Scary, right?

The onus is firmly on you, the parent. If you are supportive, your child will stay positive and employ smart techniques to be well-prepared. In this article ‘crafted’ just for you and your child, I have put together some smart tips for those last 24 hours that can have a transformative effect on your child’s exam outcome. So, shall we get smarter?

Tip 1: Write down important points and revise study notes

Reason: The night before the exam should be dedicated to simple revision. Encourage your child to prepare for the exam well in advance and not leave anything pending for the last minute. During the days leading up to the exam, as your child studies every day, so, encourage them to make study notes at that time. Writing down always helps in remembering what one has studied. This is not the period to try any new learning technique or tackle any new study material. 

Tip 2: Keep it relaxed

Reason: The night before the exam should be a comfortable one. Get your child to revise his/her chapters but ensure he/she takes frequent breaks too. Encourage them to get up and stretch, go for a walk or talk to family about things other than exams.

Tip 3: Pack and keep things ready

Reason: On the night before the exam, make sure your child gathers all the materials they need for the exam the next day. This includes their uniform, shoes, roll number, identity card, water bottle, and stationery items. Make sure there’s an adequate amount of – extra pens, pencils, erasers to avoid last-minute panic.

Tip 4: Eat good dinner

Reason: Your child’s overworked brain needs ‘healthy’ refuelling. He/she will need energy to focus and concentrate on studies. So, avoid junk food, instead, prepare a nutritious meal on the night before the big day.  For dinner, avoid foods that are too spicy or sweet. If possible, try to have an early dinner, so that there is enough gap between mealtime and sleep time. This time gap will help avoid any heartburn or acidity.

Tip 5: Get a good sleep

Reason: It is extremely critical that your child understands that a lack of sleep the night before the big day can have an adverse effect on their physical and mental well-being. Burning the midnight oil is not a way to go on the night before the exam. Therefore, ensure your child goes to bed early and gets around 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. This way, they will wake up bright and refreshed the next morning.

Tip 6: Stay calm and focused

Reason: Breathing exercises or yoga for 10 to 15 minutes will help your child stay calm under pressure. Encourage them to talk to you about their concerns if they are feeling overwhelmed about appearing for the exams.  Keep them away from those friends who will increase your child’s anxiety regarding the exam. Ask the child not to worry about how much his/her friends or classmates have been studying. Moreover, tell them to focus on writing the exam to the best of their abilities.

Tip 7: Don’t pay attention to distractions

Reason: Ensure that domestic disturbances or discussions at home do not interrupt the student’s focus on studies. 

Tip 8: Don’t let gadgets impact you

Reason: It may not be necessary to totally avoid all gadgets on the night before the exam. But keeping mobile chats and social media to a minimum is required. Also, it is vital to stay focused and positive, the night before the exam. So, make sure your child avoids watching disturbing visuals or news on the television or the Internet.

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Please note: This article has been written by Ms. Maninder Kaur. Views expressed in this article are that of the author only.