Introduction
Exams are a major source of stress for many children, which affects their emotional and physical wellbeing. Performance and expectation are the main factors contributing to their overall stress, as well as the various degrees of pressure to perform, which may result in anxiety. Therefore, it is important, as a parent, to know when your child is affected by stress from exams and give the necessary support. If taken note of, it may come out obviously in different ways, while some are apparent, others are not. Understanding the stress signs is important in being able to positively impact your child to cope and thrive during such exam periods. Here are ten common signs that your child is stressed about exams and how to provide clear advice on how to help.
Sleep Disturbances
Trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or just sleeping too much could be a sign that your child is under stress. Disruptions in sleep are very common among pressured children because stress can inhibit a person from relaxing and resting.
How to Help:
Encourage good sleeping habits, including a daily routine of going to bed. Do not allow your child to use screens for at least an hour before going to bed to give their brain time to relax. A cool, dark, and quiet sleeping environment is good. They can also use techniques like deep breathing exercises or read some pages of a book.
Irritability and Mood Swings
Stress can lead to irritability and mood swings in children. They might flare up over the smallest of things or be unable to maintain self-control over their emotions.
How to Help:
Be patient and empathetic. Create an environment of security where they feel free to express themselves. Take breaks during revision sessions to prevent overheating of stress levels.
Physical Complaints
Children show a lot of stress through physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches, or, very commonly, just different kinds of aches and pains.
How to Help:
Keep their diet balanced and encourage family exercise sessions and hydration. If physical symptoms persist, you can visit a healthcare professional to rule out other causes.
Avoidance Behaviors
Your child might start avoiding school, homework, or studying altogether. He or she can procrastinate or make some excuses to skip his/her exams.
How to Help:
Assist in making a good study timetable with realistic goals. Encourage breaks and leisure activities as part of the study timetable to avoid burnout.
Decreased Academic Performance
A noticeable decrease in grades or quality of work could indicate stress. Anxiety affects concentration and memory, making it difficult to perform well academically.
How to Help:
Give them academic support by helping with homework or arranging a tutor. Praise effort and not only the result to boost self-esteem.
Loss of Interest in hobbies
If a child loses interest in activities or hobbies that previously interested them, this may be a sign that stress is starting to take hold over their feelings. Overwhelm might take over if it is not easy or they cannot get everything done.
How to Help:
Ask for a break and the freedom to do something silly. Balance is very important, so be sure to have time for both study and leisure.
Changes to Eating Habits
Stress can cause eating habit changes. Your child might overeat, or conversely, lose his or her appetite. Your child might start to eat comfort foods or avoid food altogether.
How to Help:
Be sure to offer many clean, balanced foods in meals and snacks. It would help if you urged your child to eat at regular times and attempt to have family meals to model a positive food environment.
Increased Negative Self-Talk
If your child begins speaking negatively about themselves or is saying negative things about certain things they find themselves not good at, it could be a sign that stress has set in. They may begin to express doubts in their ability to succeed or an intense fear of failure.
How to Help:
Motivate positivity in their self-talk and remind them of previous successes. Offer words of reassurance and point out the emphasis of paying more attention to effort than perfection.
Social Withdrawal
Stress can cause children to withdraw from friends and family. They might isolate themselves or become less interested in social interactions.
How to Help: Encourage social activities and time with friends. Help them maintain a healthy balance between study and social life.
Constant Worry
Excessive worrying about exams and their future can be a clear sign of stress. Your child might express fears about not being prepared or disappointing others.
How to Help:
Teach them relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or meditation. Help them break down their study material into smaller, manageable parts to reduce overwhelm.
The views expressed are that of the expert alone.
