How you can help your teen tackle Board examination jitters

Here is what you can do as parents, guardians, and well-wishers to ease out the jitters.

Consider boards as just another exam

With the recent changes in board exams post-COVID, it has become essential to take notice of the policy changes that are trying to not just see only board marks as credits of merit. A student’s worth is not defined by the score but by the passion and explorations they discovered in school life. Thus, motivating them to perform better rather than pressurising works like magic. Understand that your ward’s scores are not the representation of family respect and societal reputation; it’s a plain indicator of their understanding of the subject, and not every child can be brilliant at every domain.

Monitor their development and create a self-care routine

Parents often want their wards to get the best scores for a better future. But more than perfection and high scores, what you should be focusing on is development and consistent progress. Give them enough space and time to create a routine where they find time not just for studies but also self-care. Encouraging cool-down breaks reinforces your teen’s faith in you that you are not solely focused on their scores but also compassionate towards the intrinsic stress they are experiencing and maybe are unable to verbalise at the moment.

Recognise signs of distress

Optimal stress can facilitate peak performance. However, if there is too much arousal that even basic functionality is being compromised, recognise that your child is in distress. There are different somatic, cognitive, physiological, and emotional signs of distress. Under any circumstance, do not label these signs as mere excuses or escape routes. It is a call for help where your child needs affection, love, care, and your presence to comfort them of their anxieties. In case it does not work, do not hesitate to reach out for professional support.

Create a conducive learning environment

As your child navigates the challenging period of board exams, your support as a parent is pivotal. Providing a space free from distractions, unnecessary arguments, and expectations can enhance your child’s academic journey — be it ensuring that your child gets an optimal 7-hour uninterrupted sleep, little reminders to take breaks as they sit and study for long hours, maintaining supervision on overuse and misuse of gadgets, providing healthy nourishment, and getting a calm environment to study can go a long way.

Get some fun

In the end, it’s essential to spend some good time with your teen. Create a refreshing song playlist, play games with them, go for random ice cream outings, and humor them about how things were so much easier in your old good times (for a change). Academic intelligence is only one domain of intelligence. If you feel your child studies too much or too little, just remind themselves and yourselves that life is a process, and instead of chasing milestones, it’ll be beautiful to immerse in the journey.

Nishtha Grover is a child and adolescent psychologist, and a doctoral research scholar based in New Delhi