Next week students in Years 7-10 undertake their Semester 1 examinations. For some students this brings with it a tinge of nervousness and anxiety. Over these coming weeks I would encourage you to keep the lines of communication open, remind the students that this exam period is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate what they have learnt across the course of the Semester.

Tips for parents during exams

Healthy eating

During periods of high stress teenagers (like many people) look for comfort food such as chocolate, lollies and biscuits, rather than healthy meals that sustain them, some boys may even be too nervous to bother with food at all. Encourage them that eating healthy will help them feel energised to tackle their exams and help to improve their concentration.

Encourage them to get enough sleep

Encourage your child to go to bed at the same time every evening. Teenagers should be getting 8-10 hours sleep a night to help them function to the best of their abilities.
Some tips to help encourage sleep include:

• Minimising screen time
• Reading or listening to calming music

Exercise

Exercise can improve mood and sleep, and reduce stress and anxiety. Encourage your son to continue to engage in his regular sports and exercise routine throughout the exam period. This can play an important role in keeping them calm and focussed.

Provide reassurance

At the end of the day, one of the best ways to help a teenager with exam stress is to offer reassurance.

Remind your son of how proud you are of their efforts, regardless of the outcome of their exams. A little confidence boost can make all the difference during such a stressful time.

Remember teenage boys frequently take their lead from the adults in the house. Being a calming presence for your son will be a great support for them throughout what can often be a stressful time. Remind them that their grades are not an indication of who they are as young people. Please find attached a copy of an article by Rebekah Delahoy that provides some strategies to help yours sons remember this.

Mrs Hughes
Director of Pastoral Care & Wellbeing