February 2013-Parent Tip on Test Anxiety
The picture above is probably how students feel when faced with a test when they suffer from test anxiety. It is a very real fear for many students young and old. A couple of key questions to ask yourself about your own son or daughter are:
1) Does your child fear making embarrassing mistakes?
2) Does he or she feel queasy in the stomach, faint, hot/cold, racing heart or sweaty palms?
3) Does his or her mind go blank when faced with a test?
4) Does he or she worry about making careless mistakes?
5) Does he or she feel angry or frustrated/irritable during a test?
The questions above are not diagnostic but may give you some clues as to the level of anxiety your child feels when taking a test. There should be a small amount of nervousness or anxiety before taking a test-this help motivate some students to prepare and focus. However, if it is above the norm and is causing physical and emotional problems, it is more serious.
Some tips on what to do to help as a parent:
1) Make sure your child is eating healthy meals and getting enough sleep.
2) Encourage your child to consistently complete homework; a high amount of preparation will reduce the anxiety and the opposite is also true.
3) Reinforce your child's efforts and encouage them to want to be tested, versus focusing on the grade.
4) Teach and practice with your child relaxation techniques he or she can use when taking a test. If he or she has a certain "ritual" way of relaxing before a test, and does it each and every time, this will help.
5) Counter negative self-talk. Have your child write out a couple of positive self-talk statements such as "I can do my best", "When I study, I do my best on tests" or "Even if I make a mistake, it will be o.k." Make these available during the test.
Some tips on what NOT to do:
1) Avoid excessive reassurance-"You'll do great!" hearing this too much will make them question the sincerity.
2) Don't ignore the problem, but don't tell them exactly what to do. Encourage them to come up with a plan of attack that will help them before the test while they are studying and preparing and when they are taking the test.
3) Don't be impatient and don't allow the child to avoid the problem either. (Such as staying home from school).
If your child is having chronic test anxiety, you may want to also seek additional professional advice. Please also feel free to contact me at 206-329-3260 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 206-329-3260 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting X220.
Thanks!
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor
1) Does your child fear making embarrassing mistakes?
2) Does he or she feel queasy in the stomach, faint, hot/cold, racing heart or sweaty palms?
3) Does his or her mind go blank when faced with a test?
4) Does he or she worry about making careless mistakes?
5) Does he or she feel angry or frustrated/irritable during a test?
The questions above are not diagnostic but may give you some clues as to the level of anxiety your child feels when taking a test. There should be a small amount of nervousness or anxiety before taking a test-this help motivate some students to prepare and focus. However, if it is above the norm and is causing physical and emotional problems, it is more serious.
Some tips on what to do to help as a parent:
1) Make sure your child is eating healthy meals and getting enough sleep.
2) Encourage your child to consistently complete homework; a high amount of preparation will reduce the anxiety and the opposite is also true.
3) Reinforce your child's efforts and encouage them to want to be tested, versus focusing on the grade.
4) Teach and practice with your child relaxation techniques he or she can use when taking a test. If he or she has a certain "ritual" way of relaxing before a test, and does it each and every time, this will help.
5) Counter negative self-talk. Have your child write out a couple of positive self-talk statements such as "I can do my best", "When I study, I do my best on tests" or "Even if I make a mistake, it will be o.k." Make these available during the test.
Some tips on what NOT to do:
1) Avoid excessive reassurance-"You'll do great!" hearing this too much will make them question the sincerity.
2) Don't ignore the problem, but don't tell them exactly what to do. Encourage them to come up with a plan of attack that will help them before the test while they are studying and preparing and when they are taking the test.
3) Don't be impatient and don't allow the child to avoid the problem either. (Such as staying home from school).
If your child is having chronic test anxiety, you may want to also seek additional professional advice. Please also feel free to contact me at 206-329-3260
Thanks!
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor