Does your child get stressed
about tests?
Follow these steps to help your
child cope with test anxiety:
• Get the facts: Find out the
exact dates your child will be tested and which tests he will take.
• Talk to your child: Find out
whether your child is feeling nervous and if so, why.
Often children feel better when
they voice their fears instead of shutting them up inside. If your child is
afraid of doing poorly, your reassurances will help him feel less frightened.
Help your child practice: If
your child is familiar with the format of the test, he’ll feel more prepared.
Ask his teacher for some sample
questions or materials that can help him get acquainted with how the test
works.
Take care of the basics: See
that your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before the test and eats
breakfast that morning.
It’s a well-worn but still
accurate notion that the brain can’t work if the stomach is empty.
Keep your cool: While tests
have increasing importance, they are just one measure of student learning, so
try to keep the process in perspective.
If you can find a way not to
take things too seriously, your child will probably feel calmer too.
