Introduction
Fear of sleeping alone, of talking to strangers, of going to the bathroom at night, on the first day of school and so there are countless more fears that the smallest of the house experience throughout their childhood. There is no need to worry, all these fears are evolutionary, that is, as they grow, they will be forgotten.
Today we want to talk about a particular fear that many children and adolescents have, the fear of exams. What can you do if your child is afraid of tests? Let’s see it!
Exams are the way to assess children’s academic knowledge and skills. For many children, tests are just a test that occurs as part of their learning. But for other children, exams are a process of stress and anxiety that causes them to paralyze and perform less.
In these cases we can speak of a fear phobia, which occurs because children anticipate consequences and fear negative consequences. It is essential to pay attention to the fear of exams and teach children to face them. The states of tension and anxiety during exam time that this fear causes are detrimental to the academic performance and health of children.
The Fear of Children and Adolescents to Exams
It is normal for boys and girls to experience the fear of exams at some point in their academic life, if this fear is just a feeling that accompanies them until the exam but that, once they begin to answer the questions, disappears, no there is nothing to worry about. The same does not happen if that fear prevents the child from responding well to the questions, blocks him and even causes him to suspend. Let’s see, then, what are the most frequent causes of fear of exams and what parents and teachers can do to help them overcome it.
Why are Children and Adolescents Afraid of Exams?
Among the most common reasons are:
- Low self esteem
- Fear of failure
- Fear of not doing well and disappointing others
- Not having studied enough
- Low self-confidence
- Pressure at school and / or at home
- Nerves when facing the exam which makes the child block and cannot show what he has learned
The fear of exams occurs because we have the ability to imagine and anticipate the future . Children develop this capacity, previous experiences and experiences provide them with information and with that information they interpret and anticipate what may happen. Fear appears when the imagined scene is negative, the visualization of the situation in the mind is exaggerated and the consequences extremely tragic.
It is essential to work on the children’s expectations, make them believe in their abilities and skills and teach them that real situations are not so negative.
How to help Children and Adolescents overcome the Fear of Exams?
- Get him to express the thoughts that are the basis of the anxiety and help him understand that they are not real.
- Express positive thoughts to them and have them express them out loud as well, such as: I am capable of doing it. If they see that you believe in their ability, they will believe too.
- Simulate exam situations with them . You can practice doing a real test or asking him to imagine the situation, while you are commenting on the characteristics of it (the day of the test arrives, you are sitting with the paper in front of you, they give you the test, you are going to read it …) and encourage him to Have her practice relaxation techniques in these simulations.
- Work on study habits . Developing these habits will help you prepare for exams and be confident of your ability.
- Take care of the child’s diet, sleep and health so that he or she goes to the exam with energy.
- Teach him to relax before the test, on the day of the test try to create a relaxed atmosphere. Help him to follow a process to take the exam, you can give him guidelines such as: first read the exam well, then choose the questions that we know how to answer well, continue with the more complicated questions and finally review in detail.
- Don’t just focus on the test results, value the process. It is important that the little ones understand the whole learning process and do not focus only on the exam.
- If the little one has worked and is not getting the desired performance, talk to him , help him find out what he can do to prevent it from happening again, and give him confidence.
Guides to Help your Kid Overcome Exam Phobia
- Make it clear that he has many qualities
Motivation is the key to overcoming this fear. Talk to your child and make him see the capabilities he has, tell him that he is an intelligent person capable of overcoming any challenge and tell him all these things from time to time, not just when the date of the exam approaches.
- Fear will accompany you but it should not stop you
This is the phrase that your child should hear the days before taking their exam. You can even give him a lucky charm that will help him so that the fear that accompanies him does not make him lose his nerve and he can do his test well. An eraser, a pencil sharpener or a bracelet, any object that you give him with love will serve as a good luck charm . Also explain that fear is a natural feeling that we all have, but that does not mean that we should let ourselves be carried away by it.
- Study at home, another way to end the fear of exams
The more prepared your child is for the test, the less reason he will have to be afraid. Check that the place where you study is appropriate, do not watch TV or listen to loud music while reviewing the lesson. Concentration is necessary.
- If you fail an exam, nothing happens!
How many exams have you failed when you went to school? Surely more than one. If your son has failed an exam, make him see that nothing is wrong, that this does not mean that he is going to fail the others, but that he just has to study a little more and review all the doubts he has. If you see it as a challenge to overcome and not as a failure, it will be easier for you to face the next exam. When he’s done and he gets the approved grade, celebrate with him! The positive reinforcement is worth a lot.
- Rehearse the next day’s exam at home
Another great way for children not to get too nervous before taking the test is to practice at home. Take the lesson by word of mouth or do a “mock” of the exam, you will see that it makes him gain confidence in himself.
Conclusion
Teaching them strategies to face the fear of exams and being able to face them without stress and anxiety will not only contribute to improving their academic performance, but will also provide them with the skills and competencies to face tests as adults and handle them successfully. Let us know if you have tried the above mentioned tips in the comments below!
