Exams are stressful for students! Well, yes. It is.
But,
They are equally stressful for teachers and for the parents of children appearing for the exam. As parents, we feel our child’s good performance is on our shoulders. While we tend to accredit the good grades to them, the bad remarks pose as our inefficiency.
Thus, keeping this in mind, Etutorworld has rounded up a list of things to help you prepare your child for these stressful days and achieve extraordinary grades.
1. Study their exam behaviour
Your primary duty as a parent is to understand the exam behavior of your child. Yes, it’s a thing and it is different in every child depending on their mind and body structure.
For instance, some children prefer to study at night while the other who wake up early mornings. There are children who eat more or need adequate sleep before exams while some prefer to function on less sleep. Then, a few kids enjoy the outdoor activity as stress busters during study session breaks while a few prefer a power nap or snacks break.
Hence, comprehend the needs of our child, plan both of your days accordingly, make sure he eats healthy food and schedule some fun activities too. Don’t let any confusion come in the way – the time is precious.
2. Use flashcards
Flashcards have proven to be one of the most effective ways of learning and developing a child’s brain. Make flashcards for each subject, use them for fun quizzes and reward your children with small gifts in return for correct answers. Flashcards also ensure proper timely revision and clarify any old doubts by a daily mental stimulus. Infact, they can also be used amongst homework groups, study teams or during study breaks.
Think of it like a mini ‘guess the word’ game.
3. Consider Tutoring
When both the parents are working to earn a decent living for their children, it becomes extremely difficult to pay attention to the child’s studies. In such cases, it’s the child who suffers. So instead of watching your little one’s grades take a toll in your absence, it is better to hire an expert who can guide him/her.
Tutors are experts in their designated fields and are professionally trained to guide your child towards a better future. They understand that every child is different, and so their teaching methods need to be too. Not only will they help your child with important notes, handy tips, and clarifications, but act as a mentor in other parts of life too. They deal with children similar to your own on a daily basis, struggling through similar problems, if not the same. They know exactly what needs to be done and when.
When I was young, I was very weak in Algebra 1. My parents were both working and therefore they found an Algebra 1 tutor. And it really changed my world.
4. Use technology for visual aid
Yes, you heard that right. You must read (over and over again) how technology is harming human’s attention span leading to bad grades. But this time around, let me explain how you can leverage from technology for better learning of your tiny tots.
Studies have proven that the human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than only text. Thus, surf YouTube for lessons that do not get along well with your child.
But not just visual content, the use of technology can be used to set time tables, formulate routines, and make to-do lists and literally everything else. You just need to know where to look.
5. Involve the whole family
Just like it is important for your kid to seek help from an expert guide and mentor, it is vital that the whole family understands the importance of exam time and supports your child during these critical hours.
Use the English language to converse, have fun verbal subject quizzes while doing house chores and make sure your kid eats healthy. Infact, family time works best as a stress-free break between study sessions. Motivate good habits, like sleeping on time and planning the schedule for the upcoming week and tell them how the entire family works along similar lines.
This time will not come back to allow revision. So, stand beside your child, act as their pillar of strength and source of joy, both at the same time. But, don’t restrict them within tight lines and allow them to have fun. Afterall, rightly said, ‘All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy!’
