It is that time of the year again. The time for school and board exams. Strategies from a clinical psychologist to get you right on top. Let's not pretend exams were a picnic for any of us. Growing older, we make sense of many of the "challenges" that we faced as children. Whether logarithms or dealing with a difficult teacher.

Given that our lives are mini obstacle courses, you and I can deal with exams now. But helping out stressed-out kids is a whole other game. It's easily done. Only you need to approach it right. First things first:

* Face it: exams are a challenge and can't be wished away.
* Our best bet is to make studying smarter, simpler and more fun. Exams will be much less stressful automatically. Fight exam stress.
* If your child is genuinely interested in his stuff, the rest falls into place. You need to be actively involved in developing that interest.
* Studying smart is a little like playing a game: learn the ropes, and you can be a winner! There are certain tried-and tested techniques to study well without getting stressed.
* Planning ahead and through the year is essential. You can avoid last-minute cramming and late nights.
* Look deep within yourself and work on your issues as a parent. Are you pushing your child too hard? Perhaps passing on your own stress to him? Are you paying attention to your child's physical and emotional needs?

Even with all this (and we will tell you how to deal with them), you and your child may face the pre-exam blues. Here are some difficult situations that you may face if your kid is about to take an examination and practical tips on how to handle them.

Your child is eithersleeping too much or too little. Her food habits have gone for a six. She either pecks at her food, or binges.
Making sense of it your child's sleep and appetite may have been disturbed due to high stress levels.
How to deal with it forcing her to eat or sleep won't help. Talk to her about her fears. Assure her that you understand. Without being dictatorial, try to establish consistent sleep and meal times. Encourage her to keep time for some physical and recreational activities. Relaxation exercises like deep breathing will help.

Your child spends frantic hours cramming the night before the examination and worries that she cannot retain what she has learnt.
Making sense of it your child could be suffering from high anxiety and also mental block due to an inefficient study pattern. She needs help.
How to deal with it Teach your child the PQ4R technique. PQ4R is an acronym for: Preview (the chapter); Question (what have you learnt?); Re-read, Reflect, Recite, Review. Memory can also be enhanced using:
• Images

• colors

• sounds

• smells

• tastes.


Your child complains of not being able to concentrate on her studies.
Your child should not study on an empty stomach. Making sense of it the child may be suffering from stress and mental fatigue. This may prevent her from focusing on her work. How to deal with it Help your child practice deep breathing exercises twice a day for 10-15 minutes. Auto-suggestion is also an effective exercise. This is a relaxation therapy that instills positive thoughts since one positive and encouraging statement is repeated. It should free your child from worries. Make sure your child gets enough breaks between study sessions so that she does not suffer saturation or fatigue.

It helps to:
* Set aside a place for study.
* The place should be conducive to studies.
* She should always study at that specific place.
* Avoid distractions near the study area, such as the television.


Your child has become moody and irritable and gets agitated at the slightest provocation.
Making sense of it this may be due to hormonal changes at puberty or an inability to cope with the pressure of studies and the hassles of growing up. It is also a period of high insecurity, since the child is grappling with the issues of aptitude and goal. How to deal with it be tolerant of her moods. Help your child understand that these mood swings may be due to physiological changes in the body. Try not to react on the double when your child shows hostility. Teach your child appropriate ways of managing emotions such as open communication, sharing thoughts with peers and parents and the right anger management techniques.




Your child seems to be putting in sincere efforts but is not making much headway in her preparation.
Making sense of it Performance anxiety could be putting a strain on her mental capacity.
Let him think his answers through and not get distracted. How to deal with it Help your child stay active. Maintain a good balance between intellectual and physical activity. Staying active allows the body to release tension. After working with over a hundred schools, they found physical exercise one of the best ways to improve performance. It also helps to eat well. The child should not try to perform on an empty stomach. Junk food is best avoided. Fresh fruit and vegetables are recommended to reduce stress.


Your child makes excuses to avoid going to school.
Making sense of it your child may be avoiding a situation that causes anxiety.
How to deal with it Try to understand the reasons for such behavior. Next, try to address her anxiety and fears. They may be personal or academic, or both. Help the child articulate and share her worries. Speak with the teachers about the problem and try to find a solution with their help.


Your child complains of getting lost in the details and has trouble identifying the main issues.
Making sense of it the child is distracted and finds studies boring.
How to deal with it is important for you to explain to the child the essentials of reading. These include:
* Recitation: reading out aloud, running a finger along the lines.
* Reading out to the child, occasionally.
* Making notes while reading.
* After reading, make her visualize the page to see if she can remember the location of the content.
* Question your child to re-inforce reading and recall.


Your child seems to be thorough with preparations and yet fails to perform in the exams.
Making sense of it Exam anxiety is at its highest.
How to deal with it Help your child practice the following cues to boost performance.
* She must make herself comfortable.
* Ask her to take time to read through all the questions and instructions carefully.
* Let her pick out the questions she knows best. She should answer questions in strategic order: the easiest ones should be tackled first. This will boost her confidence.
* Let her focus hard and ignore everyone else in the room.
* If a panic attack strikes, the best bet is to put the pen down, relax and take a deep breath.


Your child sometimes suffers from dizziness, fatigue, nausea, fast and shallow breathing. This is common among high achievers.
Making sense of it your child is probably cooped up in the room studying for too long with no time to relax.
How to deal with it Insist that she takes a break every 2-3 hours. Talk to her about things that interest her. Help her unwind. Explain to your child the importance of physical exercise. Go for a walk with her every evening. This helps refresh the mind. If the problem persists see a doctor or counselor.

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