Help Your Child Prepare For Exams & Tests

Exam season is upon us. Many parents may be asking themselves, "How can I help my child to prepare for exams?". Of course, we all want our kids to do well in school, and luckily, we have a few tricks up our sleeve to help you to help them.

Unfortunately, many schools operate under pressure trying to cover the curriculum in time. This often puts a lot of stress on both the learners and their parents. Follow our tips below to create a stress-free and productive environment that's sure to boost your child's brain performance so that they can ace their upcoming exams or tests!

This guide can help kids of all ages, up until their final year!

Keep a positive attitude

There are a million tips you could follow to help your child pass their tests and exams, but we believe this is one of the most important tips a parent could ever hear. Keeping a positive and encouraging attitude will immensely help kids feel more at ease and less pressured - remember, a stressed brain cannot function properly! If your kids see you stressed, they are more likely to also stress.

Offer positive reinforcement and encouragement throughout their study period and remind them that an exam doesn't dictate their self-worth or value.

Make a study calendar

Making an exam study calendar ahead of time helps both the parents and kids ease into their study period easily, knowing exactly what to expect. Create a calendar which shows the dates and times of each exam, and help them create slots assigned to study time (with 30 minute study slots) ahead of the exams. Assign study breaks too, in between their study slots. Organisation skills will go a long way during exams, trust us.

Tip: Let your child get creative with this calendar so that they feel good whenever they look at it. Encourage them to use colours they love and decorate it with pictures or crafts that they enjoy.

Create a comfortable study area

Assign a room or space specifically for study purposes. This needs to be away from noise and distraction (if possible) so that they can concentrate peacefully. A desk and comfortable chair is recommended, as well as sufficient stationary. They can also decorate their space neatly if they want to. Place healthy snacks and water at their study space to keep them hydrated and nourished.

Did you know that diet can play a very important role in improving concentration and reducing hyperactivity in kids? It is also important to realise that certain foods or food additives can increase hyperactivity in some children (e.g. sugar, colourants, preservatives, etc.)

Study guides

If they haven't received study guides, request this from their teacher/s. It's also useful to contact the teacher/s to find out what your child's weak spots are, and where they need to improve. You can also request past exams or practice tests so that you can assess your child's level of knowledge and help them feel more comfortable in answering the questions.

Study breaks

Study breaks are just as important as the studying itself. It's extremely important to schedule regular study breaks for your child to destress and re-energise their brain. A fatigued brain will struggle to focus and retain information, so it's essential to let them play, unwind, exercise or socialise in between all the studying.

Open communication

Many kids won't communicate their feelings to you on their own. Keep an open line of communication during their exam preparations to find out how they are coping and what they might need help with. We want our kids to feel comfortable with communicating their feelings, but it often needs to be initiated by the parents.

Limit screen time

It's important for parents to limit their children's screen time to a maximum of an hour per day. Studies have linked screen time to anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, low self-esteem and lack of concentration, all which are not beneficial especially during this time where they need a fully functional brain.

Sufficient sleep

As we mentioned before, a fatigued brain cannot function properly. Ensure your child has a regular bedtime so that their brain gets enough sleep each night. 

Brain boosters

Giving your child a brain booster ahead of exams can do wonders! Just before they begin preparing for exams, start giving them supplements like Focus & Calm or BrainShine, depending on their age. If your child struggles with hyperactivity, BrightSpark is a natural remedy to calm restlessness, impulsiveness and learning difficulties.

We also recommend that your child takes a good quality daily multi-vitamin supplement. As we all know, nutrition is important for the body, brain and development. We stock a fantastic multi-vitamin supplement for kids called Kangavites, which contains all the vitamins and minerals a child needs for growth, strong immune systems and healthy brain functioning in a yummy chewable tablet!

If you have any health-related questions, please contact us or leave a comment below for FREE advice. We always love hearing from you!