Our CHILD STRENGTH GUIDE to managing exam stress

In Our CHILD STRENGTH GUIDE to managing exam stress we consider THE BEST ways to reduce teenagers’ exam stress.

THE BEST tips for managing teenager exam anxiety

After so much disruption to school education over the last two years, it’s no wonder that a lot of teens are feeling worried that they’ve missed out on learning. On top of that, even with national exams set to happen in 2022, we can’t blame teens who fear that they might be cancelled for a third year in a row. However anxious your teen is (or isn’t) about their studies, here are a few tips to helping them feel calm, confident and in control.

Work on their self-esteem.
Talk to their teachers.
A one-to-one tutor can be a really effective way to give your teen the extra support they need. Lessons are all tailored to their learning style, and they can target issues like confidence and organisation.
Make your home a study-friendly environment.
Make sure they get enough sleep each night.
Equip them with coping mechanisms personalised for them.
Promote their independence. Since it’s vital for teens to have a sense of independence.

Finally, do make time for fun.
Even with important exams coming up, allow downtime. This will help them stay relaxed and keep a balanced lifestyle.
Keep communication open.

how to deal with exam anxiety guide

Keep their mobile phone outside of their bedroom

We know that even if switched off, a mobile phone in the room influences our cognitive capacity. It’s as if you’re doing something in a sleep-deprived state.
Use a consultative model. for example, by stating that, ‘The deal is, the mobile phone stays out of the room. How are we going to make sure you have enough access, so you find out what’s going on?’
Then you’re not penalising your young person by having the mobile phone out of the room. You’re allowing them to take control of how that happens. The non-negotiable part is that the phone stays out of the room.

Use technology and recruit the social world if you can’t be present

I work with lots of families with working parents, so one of the things you could do is think about using technology in an innovative way, You might drop in and do a FaceTime after 20 minutes.

If you learn to be able to teach someone, it’s embedded more richly than if you learn to simply pass a test. You might not be the person supporting the learning process, but there can be a social group that is.

Our CHILD STRENGTH GUIDE to managing exam stress.

Recognise that the teenage brain is unique and tailor exam support around that

As soon as you hit puberty, the brain is marinated in these pubertal hormones, and it means the brain changes state, There are some unique drives that we need to know about, as the adult supporting the teenager, so that we can capitalise on them and make sure that they reach their potential. Some of those drives might include a search for novelty, getting integrated into the peer group, a search for identity – thinking about independence and autonomy.

So, we want to think about how neuroscience and education can join hands and learn from one another, so that this young person can ride on a crest of a wave and get through this learning period – whether that be life skills or content in terms of exams – and make the most of this time.

Use the ‘consultative model’ if your teenager is reluctant to revise

You need to know what’s going on. Is this young person frightened about the idea of getting engaged because it feels like a big hill to climb, or do they not know where to start? Let’s imagine GSCEs – there’s a lot of content there, and it’s an organisational issue. You want to ask the question with genuine curiosity: What is it that’s stopping you getting going?

One of the key things we know about the teenage brain is that they respond really well to a consultative model – this is part of their drive towards being independent. So, I would ask that young person: What is it that’s stopping you going today? What do you think the hardest thing would be? Ask them to write their timetable and find out what you should do as a parent to keep them to their plan.

Identify whether it’s you or your child who is anxious

Parenting can be stressful, especially if you’re worried about your child. You’ll be in the best place to help them if you first prioritize your own mental and physical health. It’s especially hard as a busy parent to leave time in the day for yourself.

Is it the young person or the parent who is anxious? The strategies would be different depending on where the anxiety lies,

As parents, we all hold some anxiety about these exam periods because we are looking forward into future. Young people are more likely to be in the moment so I would want to think about that.

Parents’ Guide to dealing with teenage anxiety

Here, we cover:

Common mental health problems for teens.
Plus specifying strategies which parents can employ to help.

Exams can add a massive degree of mental stress for teenagers. There can be a rollercoaster of emotions that teenagers can face, which can affect their physical as well as mental condition.

Stress can result in unnecessary risk taking activity too.

Your child’s teenage years are an exciting time, but they can be tricky too. With hormones going wild and bigger pressures at school, challenging mood swings are par for the course. With mental ill-health on the rise though, you’ll want to keep watch on whether their moods are normal, or if they need a bit of help.

Today one in five teens has a diagnosable mental health condition. And on average, people wait 8-10 years after first experiencing mental health problems before seeking help. Of course, if problems are noticed and tackled when they first come up, you can help your child with the tools they need to be happy sooner rather than later.

If you think that your teen needs some professional help, find out if they can see a school counsellor, or if it’s more serious, their GP can help you work out a plan of action together.

There are lots of common issues that you can help your teen with if you have the right tips. Keep reading for a break-down of some key pain-points, and what you can to do help as a parent.

Get practical when reassuring anxious teens

Perpetual reassurance rarely helps. I would get practical about this. The three things we know help in terms of learning material is: rest, active learning and sleep. Have a bit of wakeful rest – a short period of active learning and then a rest. Then make sure they’re getting good quality sleep – it’s the glue of the memory.

Also, think about learning in a calm environment. If you get that info across to a young, conscientious person so they have a realistic timetable that’s not overwhelming, they’ll take that on board.

Keep calm and allow them to share

If you start to yell, the teenage brain will see that as a threat, Try not to let that emotion bleed into the conversation with your teenager. It’s ok to feel those emotions but take them to your partner or your friend and let it all hang out. Sort through them with that adult context, and then once you’re clear-headed and calm, go back into negotiations with your young person.

Be mindful of the message you’re sending out at home

Recognise what message you’re sending at home, If the first question you ask when they come in the door is ‘How was the test? What was your mark? What did everyone else get?’, you’re giving them the message that academic work is your priority.

Of course, exams are important. But if you ask any parent, the only thing they care about is that their kid is alright. So, think about the messages you’re giving. ‘You can be fabulous and not perfect’ is something you might say out loud and act out and talk about in words and actions.

Praise a conscientious kid for taking a break, for seeing their friends, for taking care of themselves. Holding that balance and perspective is really one of our key tasks as a parent.

Differentiate between ‘good stress’ and ‘bad stress’

We want to differentiate between chronic and perpetual stress, which is overwhelming and toxic, particularly for the developing brain, and short bursts of stress, which can be embraced and can push you to find something about yourself that is wonderful,

There’s a group at Stanford who looked at the different mindsets about stress. If you consider a short burst of stress ‘extra energy’, your brain and your body react in a different way and you’re more likely to build resilience. Think about that mindset at home as well – exam nerves are extra energy, this is rocket fuel to get you through your exam. That can really change the way you can consider the experience of stress.

Tackle perfectionist tendencies

For a child that has lost that perspective, it might be about showing that their value to you is not about their exam results. You can say: ‘I don’t want to know what your exam mark is, I want to know that you’re looking after yourself… The thing that matters to me is that you’re engaged with this, you’re enjoying it and you’re doing your best’.

If that young person has perfectionist tendencies – and girls sometimes are more likely to have these – I would want to keep an eye on that, because sometimes it can build a bit of momentum.

how to deal with exam anxiety guide

Teenager body image

Ask them how they feel when they’re socialising online. If they feel they can tell you things, it’s much easier to find the source of any problems.
As teens’ bodies change and grow, they can feel insecure about how they look. In the age of Instagram influencers and selfies though, this is increasingly common for teens. That’s both girls and boys.
Ask them what they think is normal behaviour online, and have a discussion about it. They might not realise that some behaviour is harmful. So, help them change what they see.
Peer pressure is a danger zone. Another big problem for teens today is negative peer pressure and forms of bullying online.
Cyberbullying is another danger zone. So, if your teen follows influencers who post images that brag about their bodies, it can be helpful to remind them of what’s normal. Even more importantly, what they’re seeing online isn’t real. Or, assuming it is, it isn’t normal. Can they make the choice to unfollow accounts that make them feel bad about themselves? If so then they’re learning how to be more resilient.

Nurture positive self-esteem

A dash of positivity goes a long way and the students need to have a high level of self-esteem. Building confidence and a positive mindset. Often kids in their teenage years worry about fitting in or getting admission. It can be constructive which will boost the confidence of the child and make them focus better on their studies.

Use meaningful conversation

Parents should be forcing their child to sit down at talk for at least 5-10 minutes minimum in one day. Controlling the child and telling them what they should do can be destructive for the child.

Parents sometimes show the path and expect the child to walk on it without falling and this works in academics as well. The child should be guided. It is important that at a very early your teenage girl or boy should be aware of why they are being asked to do something. If they are asked to sit for a test, then they might look at it negatively.

Promote teen independence

Parents should be working towards building situations where the child can explore and seek out an opportunity for themselves. Since they are teenagers, it has to be kept in mind that they are not fully trained in understanding the risk or repercussions of a step or decision yet. So the parents should be building a risk-free environment where the child can explore and figure out what they are good at.

Empower good decision-making

A child should be self-conscious in all areas of their life. As a teenager, social media plays a massive role and in the current digital age, the long hours of screen time are a real issue. The teenagers should be looking at something that will make their minds work,
for example solving a puzzle on the social media sites or playing sudoku on their tablet.

Seek professional help only when necessary

Boys or girls in their teenage years often suffer from ADD. Getting an early professional suggestion and admitting the child to taking therapies will surely solve the issue. Hyperactivity can be devastating if the child is trying to focus on something.

It might be possible that multiple thoughts walk around in the mind. If the situation seems quite serious, then parents should be seeking professional assistance for their child where they will go through psychological therapy.

Recognise the importance of relaxation and time for fun

After long study hours of spring tests, a child will be seeking some cozy time with their parents. This is the time that they will open up and this is an opportunity that parents should not miss to get closer to their children.

Parents need to play with their children, which will allow both individuals to destress and connect with each other. If a teenager is comfortable and happy with their parents, then they will be able to connect with unfamiliar individuals better also. Thus, this process will allow the child to build more connections.

Often all the aforementioned steps might not seem to reap results. At that point in time, hopelessness comes knocking on the door. However, a parent should not run away from the process that is being followed and nor should they discourage the child from changing their lifestyle.

Teenagers sometimes open up very easily and sometimes the process might be like peeling an onion. Trusting the process and hanging tight is the best possible outcome. Every child has a bright future if they are guided in the right direction and given enough time.