5 Do’s to Help Your Child Succeed During Finals
Spring is here and that means the stress of finals will soon be upon you and
your child. Finals related anxiety and stress is unpleasant but it can be
managed with the appropriate strategies and planning. Here are a few useful
tips that can give your child a leg up as they head into the final month of
Spring Semester.
1. Encourage Healthy Sleep Habits
Sleep hygiene is crucial to the mind being able to both retain and recall information.
Getting the appropriate amount of sleep in the right conditions is crucial to both
successful test taking and studying. Encourage your child to get 8 hours of sleep a night
in a dark room with no noise. This may be difficult with multiple roommates so it may
benefit your child to discuss their sleep needs with their roommates so that they are not
adversely effected by their friend staying up all night playing video games or socializing.
2. Encourage Your Child to Eat Healthy and Stay Hydrated
Everyone knows the age old stereotype of the college student surviving off pizza,
Chinese food and soda. There may be some truth to this but in reality these are very poor
nutritional choices for an individual who is trying to study and retain information. The
ideal diet is protein rich with grains fruits and vegetables. Encourage your child to drink a
lot of water and avoid beverages heavy in sugar and caffeine such as soda or Red Bull.
These drinks may provide an initial rush in energy but it quickly fades and is replaced
with a tired mind and body.
3. Encourage a Study Schedule That Does Not Rely on Cramming
Organization can really cut down on stress. Talking with your child about structuring
his/her time may provide more help than you realize. Encourage your child to set time
aside weeks ahead of their test. Research has shown that cramming may work as a means
of passing a test but the information is not retained long term. This structure can
minimize pre test anxiety and stress breakdowns.
4. Exercise Does Wonders
Research shows that physical activity is a wonderful study aid. After hours of study the
body becomes tired and your child’s ability to retain information will decrease. Taking a
half hour run or walk releases neurochemicals which play a part in both happiness and
concentration. Encourage your child to exercise a minimum of thirty minutes a day
during their finals period. Practicing this form of self care may take them away from their
books but will pay large dividends when they take their exams.
5. Help Manage Your Own Stress
As a parent you want nothing more than to help your child succeed. You have a life time
of experience and knowledge that you feel would greatly help your child flourish during
finals IF THEY WOULD ONLY LISTEN!!!! This is a normal reaction of many parents
who know how important their children’s grades are to their future. It is important to
remember that you can only do so much. Make recommendations and help your child
troubleshoot their problems but remember that you can’t make them study. Ask if there
is anything you can do to help. Of course this does not mean write the paper for them,
although it may sound tempting.
If your child would like more tips on how to minimize study and test related anxiety then
encourage your child to make an appointment at the Counseling & Psychological Services
(CAPS) (415) 422-6352 where they can receive free counseling sessions.