Ten tips to support your child during exams

If you are a parent to a child who is currently completing their grade 12 matric examination, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) has shared ten tips to help you support your child while they navigate through their final examination.

The tips are as follows:

1. Pin a copy of the examination timetable on the fridge. Make sure you know when your son or daughter has to be in the examination centre, and which subject they are writing.
2. Make sure your teen has all the necessary stationery. Check with your child that all their pens work, that they have a ruler, pencil, eraser, tissues and water.
3. After each examination, allow your teen to tell you about the examination – what was hard, what did they forget, what do they think they got right. It helps to have a debrief from the examination. It is not important to focus on the “should have”, “would have”, and “could haves”. Allow them the time and space to tell their story and then help them move on.

4. 

   Simple questions like “What is up next?”, “Are there any compulsory sections?”, “Are there any predictable questions?” and so on, can be useful in helping children come up with a study schedule for the time available before the next examination.

5. Some teens feel stressed and work throughout the day and night – pulling all-nighters. But this actually makes it more difficult to retain and recall information the next day in the examination. Make sure they are getting enough sleep, especially the night before the examination. After an examination, they need time to rest and recharge before they can do any beneficial study for the next paper.
6. Studying should stop at least an hour before bed to allow your teen to unwind. Falling straight into bed from the study desk is a recipe for sleeplessness.
7. What you eat and drink affects your performance in any field of activity, a healthy body is a healthy mind. Avoid fast food or foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Keep healthy snacks easily available and have them ready for in between study breaks or even to snack on while studying. Also of water to keep the body and brain hydrated.
8. Our lives and futures do not rely on any examination results. Passing an examination is only part of the story. Remind your teens that there are always other chances and other ways to reach your goals.
9. Make sure your teen still connects with friends. Contact with their peers is very important to maintaining their spirits during the coming weeks. So whether they do video chats, phone calls or messaging during study breaks – a meaningful conversation can really help to lift your child’s mood.
10. If you suspect that your child might be struggling with any form of mental health challenges contact SADAG on www.sadag.org or call 0800 567 567

This information was supplied by SADAG