AS EXAM season approaches, Action for Children’s free online Parent Talk advice service is offering support to parents to help their child cope during the coming months.
Parent Talk supports parents and carers across the UK with children aged 0-19, and families with disabled or neurodivergent young people up to 25. Its online articles answer some of the most common parenting questions, whilst trained parenting coaches are on hand for one-to-one live chats online and on WhatsApp.
Parent Talk coach Jo Thurston, said: “Exam season can have a profound impact on a child’s wellbeing.
“The pressure to do well and get good grades often feels overwhelming for them and many parents struggle to know how to help their child cope with the pressure.
“It is essential that parents reassure them and do whatever they can to support their child during this time when they may be revising.
“Small steps can go a long way, and by making sure the young person gets enough sleep, eats well and has regular breaks from revision, they’re more likely to be able to tackle stress in healthier ways – skills they can take with them as they move into adulthood.”
Common signs that your child is experiencing stress include:
- Upset stomach
- Headaches
- Disturbed sleep
- Loss of appetite
- Being irritable
- Low mood
Sometimes the source of a child’s stress might not be obvious, and it can come from various sources. This could include a comment from a teacher, relative or friends, news and social media can often play a part too.
Jo said: “It’s important to speak to your child to find out how they’re feeling, sharing concerns about revision or the upcoming exams and working together to find ways to make it better.”
Parent Talk’s top tips for supporting your child during exam season:
- Help them manage their workload
Prioritise breaks and time away from revision. This improves mental wellbeing and helps your child focus and learn.
Speak to the school about any worries your child may have. Discuss how the school could help reduce the impact of stress and manage the workload.
- Encourage healthy habits
The amount of sleep your child gets makes a difference to their mental wellbeing and ability to learn. If your child isn’t sleeping well, see if there are any changes they could make to their bedtime routine to help them relax. Make sure they get regular food and drink breaks and help them find ways to stay active by getting out in the fresh air.
- Take a positive attitude
Stay positive. Remind your child of their strengths and qualities. Let them know you are proud of the efforts they’re making and that they can always talk to you if they’re struggling.
Your child may not want to talk to you right now, that’s normal and can happen for a variety of reasons that aren’t related to anything you have done. But you can help them identify a trusted friend or adult to speak to or make them aware of other support services they can access. Parent Talk’s Sidekick service is an anonymous and confidential text service for young people aged 13-18, who can message our friendly team about any concerns they may have. Simply search ‘Parent Talk Sidekick’, send a message and the young person will get a response in 24 hours.
You can find more advice for dealing with exam stress here.
For further support, visit the Parent Talk website.
