At the end of May, when final exams for schoolchildren begin, a period of stress and anxiety begins for children and parents. On May 24, Irina Narziyeva, a psychologist at the Doctis telemedicine service, told Izvestiya about how to help a child prepare for exams and prevent anxiety from affecting the results.
According to her, in a difficult period for a child, the most important thing is trusting relationships and support. Usually, before the start of exams, the family discusses plans for entering a university and various scenarios for actions based on the results of the USE, including the possibility of paid education if you fail to score the required number of points.
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“Children should know that whatever the result of the exams, it will not affect the relationship with their parents and their love. If the student knows from the very beginning that the parents will provide comprehensive support, accept the results of the exams, whatever they may be, then by the decisive period the student will be more calm and self-confident, ”the specialist emphasized.
She also advised parents not to remind their child of past bad results in control and mock exams. Instead, you should inspire confidence and encourage the student.
Narzieva pointed out that in the process of preparing for exams, it is necessary to offer your child your help, for example, to help in the distribution of time. You can also teach your child to restore breathing during strong excitement (it is necessary to take two or three deep breaths). Words of approval will be useful: “I can do it,” “I will succeed,” and so on. At the same time, it is important to listen to the opinion of the student, to give the opportunity to make decisions.
“At the same time, you should not escalate the situation, often disturb the child by going into his room with questions: “How are you? Are you ready?” The tasks of parents are to provide comfortable conditions for preparation, to maintain silence and a calm atmosphere in the house, to monitor nutrition, which should be complete and as useful as possible, ”said the psychologist.
In addition, the student needs to temporarily give up invigorating drinks – coffee, strong tea, energy drinks, since the nervous system is already in an excited state.
On the eve of exams, a student can be very nervous, lash out at relatives. Parents need to try to calm the child and distract him from disturbing thoughts.
Narzieva also drew attention to the importance of a correct reaction to the results of the exams: regardless of the outcome, you should congratulate the child on the end of the examination period and emphasize how much work the student has done and how much you appreciate it.
“When disappointed in the results, show delicacy. In such a situation, children may experience frustration, anxiety about their future, a decrease in self-esteem – “I let myself down, my parents and loved ones and everyone around,” the expert advised.
She noted that after the examination period it is important to give children a rest, put their nervous system in order and improve their health for new achievements. If necessary, the help of a specialist psychologist or neurologist is desirable.
Earlier in the day, Kristina Fedonina, teacher and expert at SberUslugi, spoke about ways to cope with stress in the run-up to exams. First, you need to understand how the exam is graded. Before the exam, you need to once again familiarize yourself with the criteria by which the examination work will be evaluated in order to develop your own strategy for solving tasks.