When the exam week takes place, the tension is usually not only felt by the children who are taking the exam. However, it is also parents who must accompany their children to study in order to prepare themselves for exams.
This sometimes makes fathers/mothers confused, because they don’t know the right way to help children and it actually adds to the child’s burden for exams. You can practice some of the tips for accompanying children to study for various exams to help them. Anything? Come on, let’s see!
1. Sharpen children’s learning skills
As a parent, do you already know your child’s learning skills? Often parents only assess the ability of the grades they get. Even though learning skills are very important for them to master so that they always succeed in doing well in every exam. These learning skills include children’s ability to understand reading, critical thinking skills and problem solving. Does the child have learning skills?
2. Build child’s confidence
Teach them to be more courageous by showing that you believe they can do well on the test. Spreading positive feelings will really support them to achieve success. Invite children to think that even though exams are important, they can never define themselves (that children are not smart, lazy, and so on). Teaching them to be more confident and think positively can also be done by teaching motivational words, such as getting them used to saying, “I’ll try it” or “I’ll try my best”.
3. Help children make learning strategies
Success in exams is not only because children can remember the material well. There are several strategies parents can use to help them. For example, if the child shows concern that he will forget what he has learned or memorized in the middle of the exam, then tell the child to write everything down on the question paper as soon as the test begins.
Also invite children to make strategies in determining the correct answer. Such as by first selecting which answer is wrong among the multiple choices that exist. Most children also fear that they will run out of time on exams. Try to train them to do practice questions in a certain time so they have time management skills during the real test.
4. Teach children to manage stress
Help your child talk about how they are feeling or the stressors they are experiencing leading up to a test. Listen empathetically, so they understand that they are understood and that it is normal for them to feel tense or stressed. Teach children to manage stress with simple things, such as praying in silence, taking deep breaths, or building self-suggestions that they can do well on exams.
5. Accompany the child emotionally
When facing a challenge or a difficult time such as a test, children will need more presence and attention from their parents.