The Practical First Steps
•Make sure your child has enough sleep, eats a healthy breakfast, and gets to school on time.
•Make sure your child has the needed school supplies (notebooks, pencils, etc.).
•Doing well on a test is easier if a student has been consistently completing school assignments, including studying or reading. Encouraging your child to complete homework each day is important and helpful.
Specific suggestions
•Motivate your child to want to take a test. You can do this by reinforcing their efforts, including the studying and homework tasks, rather than focusing on having to make a certain grade.
•Help your child reduce fear and anxiety. This can be accomplished with enthusiasm, praise, and, at times, small rewards for giving their best effort in spite of feeling worried.
•Anxious children tend to have many negative thoughts (—I‘m going to fail this test or —I do badly on every test). You can teach your child to challenge these ideas by looking at the evidence against each negative thought (—Do you really fail every test? What is likely to happen if you study?). Finally, help your child find a more optimistic thought to use whenever the negative ones arise (—When I study I pass tests).
•Teach your child ways to relax through simple techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. Relaxation is a skill that requires learning and practice, so keep the relaxation practices short and simple. Make it a family activity, where everyone takes the time to breathe deeply: you can teach by example. Use the techniques yourself, for example, when you become frustrated while driving. Encourage your child to practice in real-life situations (e.g., before going to a stressful family event).
