| Examination time can be a stressful period for both | | | | 3. The importance of organization and scheduling can |
| children and parents. The children have to prepare the | | | | never be overemphasized for any age group. Help |
| curriculum and deliver at the exam time, and the | | | | your child prepare a timetable. Make room for their |
| parents have to ensure that they assist their children | | | | normal day to day activities. Never let them cut |
| as far as possible in preparing for the exams. In fact, | | | | activities they enjoy to make room for more revision |
| parents can play a major role in preparing their children | | | | time. This will only lead to a build up of stress that could |
| to succeed in academic examinations. The role of | | | | lead to poor performance in all of their exams. |
| parents in preparing their children for exams for | | | | 4. Practice and revision throughout the year without |
| different age group of children is highlighted below. | | | | leaving out any portion is the key to success and your |
| Ages 7 to 11 | | | | child should be encouraged to clear any difficulties or |
| Children in the age group 7 to 11 are, basically, students | | | | doubts instead of omitting the tough portion altogether. |
| of primary education. Children in this age group are just | | | | 5. It's extremely vital to allow and encourage your |
| learning the basics of every subject at this stage. The | | | | children to rest adequately so that they are refreshed |
| immediate goal of children in this age group is to clear | | | | every time they study. They should also be |
| the SAT exams with a good score, and to prepare a | | | | encouraged to indulge in different activities, and not just |
| good foundation for other important examinations in | | | | concentrate on studies. |
| the future. As a parent, your task is to guide your child | | | | 6. Make the environment perfect for studies. Ask your |
| at such a tender age to come out of his/her exams | | | | family members not to disturb the child when he/she is |
| with flying colors. Here are some useful tips that will | | | | studying, and avoid distractions from any source, like |
| help you in preparing your child for their exams. | | | | the TV. Please note that some children benefit from |
| 1. Preparation is the best stress buster at exam-time. | | | | listening to some kinds of music while they study. |
| Make sure your child adheres to this golden rule, and is | | | | 7. Make sure your child is sleeping well and adequately. |
| not left with any portion of the curriculum unprepared. | | | | 8. Always praise them for their hard work and reward |
| 2. The period running up to the exams is a golden time. | | | | them with little gifts. |
| The key is to organize the timetable in such a way so | | | | 9. Inculcate positive thoughts by explaining to your child |
| as to cover all subjects thoroughly. | | | | that there is no point brooding over a bad |
| 3. Children at this stage are quite impressionable. | | | | performance in one exam. |
| Therefore, it's much easier to inculcate positivism in | | | | 10. Ask your child if he/she needs any help. This moral |
| their minds so that your child can develop the coping | | | | support is enough for your child to remain honest with |
| mechanisms to learn to deal with the pressure of | | | | his/her exam preparations. |
| exams. This enables them to de-stress themselves | | | | 11. Promise a big family celebration after the exams |
| and not panic at exam time. Panicking during an exam | | | | are over, and keep your promise! |
| is one of the main reasons children under perform in | | | | You can only do so much, but the final results of |
| exams. Teach them simple routines to deal with exam | | | | exams are entirely the efforts of your child. Always |
| stress at his age and these methods will remain with | | | | remind your kids of the golden rule of life. |
| them through the rest of their lives. This subject is | | | | Games improve memory and exam performance |
| covered in slightly more detail at the end of the article. | | | | With the introduction of the brain training software for |
| 4. If your child is having a tough time concentrating on | | | | the Nintendo games console educational software as |
| a particular subject, try out innovative techniques from | | | | become cool. Children who are reluctant to learn using |
| everyday life to make the subject interesting. Try | | | | conventional methods are now being taught using |
| windows brain training software or one of the leading | | | | educational software in the classroom. In one example |
| packages on the Nintendo DS console. This subject is | | | | we have created software that has different targets |
| covered in slightly more detail at the end of the article. | | | | moving around a smart board and the pupil as to shoot |
| 5. If the child is generally having a tough time | | | | the right answer using a remote control. This is a great |
| concentrating on their studies, it's better to give him/her | | | | fun method for teaching mental maths and spelling to |
| a break. Preferably, you should persuade the child to | | | | the younger age groups. |
| indulge in the activities he/she likes the most. Eg. | | | | Research into educational computer games like the |
| Sports, TV, games etc. This should recharge the | | | | brain training software for windows, and the Nintendo |
| batteries and improve concentration levels of the child. | | | | games console as shown that children who use the |
| 6. Make sure your child has adequate physical | | | | software for 20 minutes at the start of the day easily |
| exercise, a healthy diet and regular sleep during the | | | | outperformed children using conventional methods. |
| examination period. | | | | Children using the software tended to settle down |
| 7. Don't leave it until the last minute. If you've inculcated | | | | more quickly and concentrate with much higher levels |
| in the child the habit to be organized and adhere to all | | | | of concentration. The same results have also been |
| the deadlines throughout the year, half the job of | | | | achieved by adults using the same software. Also, long |
| preparing your child for their exams is already taken | | | | and short term memory was found to be improved if |
| care of. | | | | the software is used on a regular basis. |
| 8. Children must be made aware of the importance of | | | | To improve your child's performance in their exams try |
| planning for the future. If the child knows what's | | | | to find the right balance between conventional |
| expected of him during the exam time, it'll save him/her | | | | methods, using past exam papers, revision guides and |
| from the surprise element of added pressure. In this | | | | computer based methods, on-line learning (SAM's |
| regard, preparing a monthly schedule for the child, and | | | | Learning etc), computer software, brain training |
| encouraging him/her to adhere to it, could be a good | | | | software etc. |
| way of bringing in discipline in the child's routine. | | | | Methods for controlling stress |
| 9. Lastly, do not overburden your child with high | | | | In the months before the examination period take up a |
| expectations. Just leave them be and there are far | | | | sport or try to get some light exercise by going on a |
| more likely to deliver good grades. Your child has | | | | bike ride or a long walk. Physical activity is a great |
| probably put themselves under enough pressure | | | | method for reducing stress and anxiety. |
| without you adding to it. | | | | At the start of the exam read the exam papers |
| Ages 11 to 16 | | | | instructions carefully thinking about nothing else. This will |
| The pre-teens and adolescent years are formative | | | | prevent you from making mistakes by answering |
| stages of a child's academic career. Preparing for their | | | | questions you shouldn't't attempt because you have |
| High school exams and GCSE's may seem the | | | | attempted other questions; but it will also focus your |
| hardest task due to several distractions at this stage | | | | mind removing thoughts that lead to anxiety. Find a |
| of their life. As a parent, you need to handle children of | | | | perfume or deodorant that as a calming affect on you. |
| this age group with extreme care. Here are some | | | | If you feel really anxious hold you nose and breathe |
| useful tips that will help you in preparing the pre-teen | | | | out or breathe into your cupped hands. This increases |
| and adolescent children for their exams. | | | | the carbon dioxide in the blood causing a calming |
| 1. Encouragement and letting your child know about the | | | | affect. Find your own destress points, massage your |
| importance of GCSEs is your primary role as a parent. | | | | temples or just over your nose with a gentle circular |
| 2. Trust on hard work throughout the year rather than | | | | motion. If you suffer from really serious nerves or |
| any last minute revisions. | | | | anxiety don't suffer alone, go and see a doctor. |