A Parents Guide to Surviving Exams

WE have had public exams in our house for the last 6 years and I'm glad to say after this month they're over forever. I have 3 children who are each 2 years apart and they've all had GCSE's, AS Levels and A Levels. As any parent who has or has had children sitting these exams knows, as well as being a stressful time for the teenagers it's stressful time for us parents too!

Over the years I've come up with the following tips for trying to reduce the stress:

• Do try to be around for your child as much as you can - to encourage them to work, or stop work.
• Do offer to test them if they want.
• Do make sure there is food in the house.
• Do try to encourage them to have a break outside once a day - a walk to our local shops to buy a treat for tea always works in our house!
• Do remember that exams won't last for ever and soon life will be back to normal.

Now for the things it's best to try not to do:

• Don't take it personally if your teenager is stroppy and blames everything on you - stay calm, remember they're just stressed and you are the adult!
• Don't tell them exams are much easier than when you did them - that just winds them up more.
• Don't interfere with your teenagers revision technique - they should chose where and how to revise.
• Don't stop them from seeing friends - a few hours out on a Saturday night shouldn't do any harm.
• Don't let them work non stop - remember that sleep is very important for brain function.

Please feel free to comment with anything that has helped ease the stress in your house.

Good Luck to both students and their parents everywhere!

Photo by Flickr Blah Adam

Comments

[Jo]

Thanks for thge info! I have 3 kids ... 3 years apart, and am just starting this great exam cycle this year!

[Karen]

I hope they go well. You've got years of exams in your house - poor you. My daughters A levels start tomorrow and suprisingly everything is quite calm at the moment!
Karen