As the Leaving and Junior Certificate exams approach, households around Galway can start to feel pressure. While students are doing the hard graft, parents/guardians play a key role too. Here are five tips to help your teen through the exams.
1. Study space: Make sure your student has the right environment. Quiet and clutter-free, with natural light and fresh air, works best. Students should be encouraged to leave phones in another room. Limit noise from younger siblings.
2. Routine: Help them plan their study sessions – a daily timetable works well. A daily rhythm can ease stress and help them retain information better. Preparing for an exam is like preparing for a big match, don’t change your normal routine close to the main event.
3. Encourage: Remind them that their best is good enough. Not every child is aiming for 625 points or top marks – and that’s okay. Avoid comparing them to others. Instead, tell them you are proud of the effort they are putting in.
4. Connect: Talk, listen, and be present. Ask how study is going, but don’t grill. A chat over a cup of tea or a lift to training can open the door to honest conversation. Offer encouragement and build confidence by pointing out all the study and effort they have put in over the last two years.
5. Basics: Make sure they’re eating three proper meals a day with two healthy snacks. Fresh air and a 10-minute walk can reset the brain. Encourage eight hours of sleep a night and two to three litres of water a day to stay hydrated, especially during the hot days.
Above all, remind them that these exams don’t define who they are.
For more tips visit www.galwaystudy.com
