How to drive away anxiety
Nov 09, 2003
Is your child an S6, S4, or PLE candidate? If yes then chances are that he/she may be experiencing examination related stress.
Is your child an S6, S4, or PLE candidate? If yes then chances are that he/she may be experiencing examination related stress.
Sitting a national examination is an experience, which has far reaching implication on your child’s educational life.
His/her future depends on its results. An examination can therefore be a stressful experience characterised by negative emotions like fear, worry and anxiety.
Stress is a mental threat, which a candidate must avoid or learn to cope with. It impairs the candidate’s ability to concentrate and organise his/her thoughts logically. Instead of concentrating on the task at hand, the candidates tend to worry about possible failure and their inadequacies.
Did you know that an intimate talk with your child could relieve psychological stress brought by examination?
Your child is now in a critical time that requires him/her to build a positive mental picture that reads: “I am capable and I will make it.†This positive self-image will affect the child’s perception of exams and enable him/her to face it boldly.
Talking to your child in a manner, which expresses unconditional acceptance, would cool the exam- related fire within. Accepting your child as he/she is, is an act of love.
Nancy Van Pelt in her book, Train up a Child states that feeling loved facilitates brain function and is ‘an effective therapeutic force in alleviating psychological stress.’
Apart from building a child’s self esteem, acceptance enables your child to actualise his/her potentials. Your child needs your love and acceptance during exams more than ever before.
Avoid taking over the conversation by preaching or simply giving advice. Active listening can communicate acceptance more effectively.
Listening will enable your child to open up and express inner fears, headaches, and worries associated with examination.
Build up your child’s self image with words like: “I have confidence in your ability and I know you will perform satisfactorily.â€
Avoid judgmental evaluation of what the child says. Instead use verbal invitations like: “I would be interested in hearing the fears you have towards examinations.â€
This is not the time to threaten your child with possible consequences of scoring low grades. This will only build more tension and increase mental stress.
Remember that no child logically sits for examination with an aim of scoring low grades.
With high or low grades the child still remains yours and you have a parental obligation to accept him/her.
The best you can do now is to simply act as a resting pillow where your child can seek refuge. Good luck!
jamesawagwau@yahoo.com
Sitting a national examination is an experience, which has far reaching implication on your child’s educational life.
His/her future depends on its results. An examination can therefore be a stressful experience characterised by negative emotions like fear, worry and anxiety.
Stress is a mental threat, which a candidate must avoid or learn to cope with. It impairs the candidate’s ability to concentrate and organise his/her thoughts logically. Instead of concentrating on the task at hand, the candidates tend to worry about possible failure and their inadequacies.
Did you know that an intimate talk with your child could relieve psychological stress brought by examination?
Your child is now in a critical time that requires him/her to build a positive mental picture that reads: “I am capable and I will make it.†This positive self-image will affect the child’s perception of exams and enable him/her to face it boldly.
Talking to your child in a manner, which expresses unconditional acceptance, would cool the exam- related fire within. Accepting your child as he/she is, is an act of love.
Nancy Van Pelt in her book, Train up a Child states that feeling loved facilitates brain function and is ‘an effective therapeutic force in alleviating psychological stress.’
Apart from building a child’s self esteem, acceptance enables your child to actualise his/her potentials. Your child needs your love and acceptance during exams more than ever before.
Avoid taking over the conversation by preaching or simply giving advice. Active listening can communicate acceptance more effectively.
Listening will enable your child to open up and express inner fears, headaches, and worries associated with examination.
Build up your child’s self image with words like: “I have confidence in your ability and I know you will perform satisfactorily.â€
Avoid judgmental evaluation of what the child says. Instead use verbal invitations like: “I would be interested in hearing the fears you have towards examinations.â€
This is not the time to threaten your child with possible consequences of scoring low grades. This will only build more tension and increase mental stress.
Remember that no child logically sits for examination with an aim of scoring low grades.
With high or low grades the child still remains yours and you have a parental obligation to accept him/her.
The best you can do now is to simply act as a resting pillow where your child can seek refuge. Good luck!
jamesawagwau@yahoo.com