Parents can help ease test stress
Once your sons and daughters are in high school, it’s
difficult to determine how much you let go and how much you help with getting
homework completed and studying for tests. The Better Homes and Gardens Oct., 2005 issue shared some stress-easing
tips for grade school parents. Here’s an adaptation of Chrystle Fiedler’s
article to fit the needs of high school parents:
- Ask
for the week’s vocabulary list and incorporate vocabulary words into your
sentences as you speak during that week. Or occasionally ask your son or
daughter to define one or two words at a time throughout the week.
- Get
these students moving. Go for a walk before or
after studying. Or maybe you’d rather put on some funky music and dance in
your living room. (You might want to stretch before you attempt this.)
- Feed
your sons and daughters a “power breakfast,” including proteins, carbs and
some healthy fats so their brains receive some premium fuel.
- “Use
5-5-5 breathing,” says psychologist Tess Marshall. Marshall’s instructions are to breathe
in slowly for 5 counts, hold the breath for 5 counts, and exhale slowly
for a count of 5.
- Turn
up the radio on the way to school and play upbeat tunes like “We Are
Family,” “Sandstorm,” and “I Feel Good.” This’ll wake up those brains and
prepare them for the day.
- Tell
your sons and daughters every day that you believe in them.
- After
the test, if your sons and daughters didn’t perform well on a test, just
listen to them and let them vent. We all have had disappointments and know
how they feel, so it’s important to validate their feelings.