While certain level of pressure can motivate students, but excessive anxiety can potentially cause impact child's mental health and exam performance.
Board exams are probably the first crucial milestone for student’s academic journey. As the 2025 board exams approach, stress levels are expected to increase among students. Under such circumstances, parents have a crucial role to play in helping your child navigate this tough period with positive mindset and confidence. Here’s a comprehensive guide for parents to reduce exam anxiety in your kid during board exams.
Before addressing this critical issue, it’s important to recognize the signs of exam anxiety among students. Some signs are not d swings, irritability, reduced concentration, lack or excessive sleeping, loss of appetite or overeating, headache, negative self talk, and so on. If you are observing any of these signs in your child, you need to take proactive steps to ease their stress.
Remember, ambience or surroundings has a huge impact on preparation and exam results. Thus, as a parent, you need to provide a well-designed and stress-free study environment without much noise from outside. Ensure, your kid is getting a quiet and well-lit place for study. Help your kid fixing a proper study schedule to avoid burnout. If you are teaching your children, help them engage in active learning methods like mind maps, and concept-based learning. Be there at the time of mock tests and help in limiting distractions.
Physical well-being is crucial for performance in board exams. Thus, encourage your child to consume more balanced diet full of nutritious and brain boosting foods like fruits, and whole grains, abd nuts. To improve concentration, take them for regular walks, meditation, and yoga. Ensure your kid is getting at least 5-6 hours of sleep daily.
One of the biggest causes of exam stress among kids is the pressure to meet expectations from parents and teachers. To reduce that, have open conversation with your child. This should be followed by helping in goal setting and celebrating small milestone achievements. Stay away from comparing your kids unnecessarily with other classmates or neighbours.
Confidence can create a lot of difference among students appearing in board exams. Thus, parents should encourage to have positive affirmations every morning and bedtime. There are certain ways to visualise failure. Some perceive it as a roadblock while others see it as an opportunity to improve. If your kid didn't perform well in one mock test, your responsibility should be motivating kids for improvement in upcoming tests. Don't keep on talking about failures before exams. Guide yiur kids master time management skills during exams.
The emotional support from parents plays a vital role in your child’s mental well-being. Allow your kids share their concerns and listen without judgement. Be patient, understand the concern, and help them come out of the situation as soon as possible. Instead of saying, “You must be a class topper,” say, “Do your best, and we are proud of you.”
If you observe that, anxiety is creating lot of impact, consider consulting a counselor. As a parent, your role is not just to push them for academic excellence, but also to ensure their emotional well-being. With patience, support and encouragement, you can help your kids overcome exam pressure and perform at their best in this board exam.
