Tests are a crucial phase of a child’s life. As a parent, you need to provide them with guidance and support. Things can’t be learned at once, so you should schedule your children’s study routine. If the child learns daily, these academic tests will become an easy task for them. So, practice and training are much more significant for a child to achieve good grades in exams. Most students say that they’re more stressed by schoolwork and tests than by anything else in their lives. 16–20% of students have high test anxiety, and another 18% have moderately high test anxiety.
Parents should encourage their children to clear up their doubts during class. Not doing that will only result in not understanding the lesson correctly. Discussion is an essential factor in test preparation. And please discuss each aspect of the tasks to improve your children’s concepts. Parents should also be prepared if they want their child to get excellent scores. Preparation is the key to success. Many children feel nervousness and low self-confidence during exam time. Here are various tips to boost their confidence in teaching your child about test preparation.
- Encourage plenty of sleep.
The sleeping schedule of the child matters the most. Parents should keep an eye on when their child is going to bed. During exams, children should get more sleep to study vigorously. Healthy sleep will help children attempt the exams with an active mind. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children 5–13 need 9 to 12 hours of sleep, and teenagers need 8 to 10 hours.
- Use study techniques according to the child’s learning style.
Children have different learning preferences according to their interests and comfort zone. For instance, a social learner might be more assisted by studying with a sibling and parent than the parent alone. Such a child might also benefit significantly from group tutoring sessions. An unsociable learner might benefit from reviewing study guides and taking several practice tests at their own pace. Some kids prefer studying in a group, whereas others like studying self-sufficiently. So it’s parents’ responsibility to spot which learning style best suits their child.
- Seek out extra help.
Some children require extra help to clarify their concepts and maintain a good study routine. That’s why several institutes offer various learning programs. Some of them offer an online program that surely helps children. It simulates one-to-one learning by providing instant personalized instruction according to the child’s requirements. With assessments and real-time reporting, parents can find parts of their strengths and weaknesses in their children.
- Remain Calm
During exams, the child automatically senses a feeling of anxiety and tension. Some parents also become anxious because of their concerns. Therefore, parents should remain calm, as their anxiety can quickly transfer to the child. Otherwise, the children will start losing their appetite, deal with sleeplessness, and have panic attacks. Parents should become more positive and encouraging toward their children.
- Create study aids.
Parents should help their children by creating study aids to improve their memory. They can use these aids by taking a written or verbal test. Quizzes, formulas, and science facts can be memorized when they are learned daily. Using these steps will help your child learn more efficiently.
Make sticky notes by mentioning mathematics formulas, science facts, and multiple-choice questions. Teach your child to read books and articles daily to enhance their reading skills. Flash cards will be essential in learning historical dates, vocabulary, and general knowledge facts.
- Remind them that exams do not define their self-worth.
Children may worry about the exams; therefore, parents must remind them about their self-worth. Parents should assure them that the exams don’t define their abilities and self-esteem. You should advise them by saying, “Although the exam is indeed important, no matter how you do on it, you’re still a brilliant and talented person. Remember that exams do not define how smart you are or what a good person you are.”
- Communicate with the teacher.
Being in touch with your child’s teacher is always a good idea, as the teacher knows much more about your child. Students spend a significant part of the day with the teacher. Teachers can help you understand your child’s interests and class performance. They can recommend various activities to help your child understand concepts and lessons more clearly.
- Avoid Distractions
To avoid distractions, turn off electronic devices like laptops and mobile phones, which are the primary sources of distraction. Teach your child to study one subject for a certain period of time. Afterward, move on to another topic to help him understand the lessons more clearly. Also, focus on giving them healthy meals and making them sleep better.
- Focus on confidence.
Confidence will help children acquire good grades. If the child enters the school with low confidence, it can make him anxious or cause panic attacks during the exam. It would definitely help if you talked with your child to boost his confidence. Some children become stressed due to fear of not knowing the answer. It would help if you determined that he knows the concepts well and is ready.
- Help your child relax.
If your child panics or becomes nervous before the exam, you should try to relax him. When the child becomes stressed, it may result in getting him sick. Some parents pressure their children; it can be very harmful. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to make your child’s mind stress-free. The mind adversely affects the body, which means your child is far behind.
- Get Doubts Cleared
If the teacher taught a lesson and your child has any doubts, encourage him to get it cleared right away. Not doing that will only result in failing to understand the task correctly. Discussing the lesson with fellow students will also help.
12. Personalize study tactics
Every child has different strengths and capacities. Some have challenging time-solving mathematics problems. Some have a hard time learning science or history. Parents should talk to teachers to identify the child’s drawbacks. You should also keep in mind the requirements of your child. If he is studying continuously for an hour, you should give him a break so it will refresh his mind and revive his energy. In the test week, make extra efforts to connect with your child. Use some tactics to help your child:
- Avoid unnecessary screen time.
- Do some morning exercise.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Keep your tone positive and encouraging towards your child.
- Drop him off at school with a great hug and encouraging gestures.
- Focus on learning instead of performance.
Learning is the primary goal of study. Therefore, switching your child’s focus on learning will undoubtedly result in securing good grades. Stressing on the performance will burden him, and there is an excessive chance that he will not be able to attempt the test accurately. Celebrate your child’s major and minor achievements; thus, he will be more proud of himself.
- Create a reward system.
To motivate your child to study, you should create a reward system. It can be something simple, like watching a movie together after completing the study session, or saving points that can be used for something more unique.
Conclusion
A problem children mostly face is forgetting what they have studied. The teacher taught every student in the same way at the same level, but they have different memorizing abilities. Even a good student who has put in a lot of effort and hard work might get low marks on the test because he has forgotten what he has learned. Parents should help them memorize. Ensure your child cultivates the habit of reading. Revising the lessons taught at school will help him understand and remember the concepts well. Make yourself more available to your child. Make him feel comfortable around you so he can freely discuss his problems with you.
