Have A Routine
Something that can really help when it comes to kids being comfortable during their exams is establishing a consistent and helpful routine in the lead up to the test. If you can do that, you’ll significantly reduce your child’s stress and help them feel much better about the exams they need to take.
You can set specific times for study and make sure you factor breaks into the timetable as well because it’s far better to study for 30 minutes then take a 15-minute break then do another 30 minutes of studying than it is to try to do hours of studying without a break at all. By the time your children sit their exams, they’ll feel comfortable about how much they know, and that’s a good thing.
You can also use that routine to help them feel comfortable about the exam itself. It can be daunting for kids to step into a big hall full of desks and papers if they’ve never done it before, so if you can set up a study-friendly environment in your home that mimics the look and feel of an exam room, you’ll be doing your kid a favor because by the time they get round to the exam, they’ll already know what to expect.
Give Them A Drink
Something that can cause plenty of discomfort when it comes to taking an exam is to get thirsty in the middle of it (or even start out that way), or to get a cough and not be able to stop it – that’s distracting for you and the people around you.
Water is the answer. For the ultimate in comfort, you need to make sure your child has enough to drink to prevent them from getting dehydrated and to stop their throats from getting dry and a cough starting. Provide them with a water bottle to take with them, and make sure that they can refill it when they need to – that might involve contacting the school to check that all the kids know how and where they can do that, for example.
In fact, contacting the school about water is a good idea in general. It might be that some kids don’t drink enough – or any – water to school, and that means they’re going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to their exams (not to mention their health), so why not suggest the schools orders some custom water bottles? It’s a great scheme that could really make a difference to a lot of kids.
Give Them A Good Breakfast
If drinking is important, then so is eating, and although they won’t be able to eat during their exams, you can still help make sure they get the right nutrition ahead of their test by giving them a good breakfast.
Skipping breakfast due to nerves might seem like a good idea – it’s better not to eat if you can’t face it, right? – but that’s not the case, and it could actually be the worst thing to do. Going into an exam on an empty stomach is going to be distracting at best (a gurgling stomach and hunger pangs aren’t going to help anyone concentrate), and dangerous at worst (not eating can cause a drop in blood sugar, which can lead to a lack of focus, headaches, and even fainting). It’s far better to have something to eat, even if it’s just a piece of fruit, than to have nothing at all.
Choose Comfortable Clothing
Next is the clothing your children wear to take their exams. It might be that they have a school uniform they have to stick to, and once again, it might be worth contacting the school to speak to them about this. We’re not suggesting the kids should be allowed to wear the own clothes for exams (although some schools might allow it), but we are suggesting that schools might relax some rules, and do away with ties or other more formal elements of the uniform to ensure everyone is completely comfortable.
If your kid wears their own clothes for school then being comfortable might be easier. Make sure they’ve got some loose-fitting clothing to wear and that they put layers on. It might be very cold or very warm outside, but who knows what the exam hall is going to be like? It might be much different, and having layers to put on or take off can make things a lot more comfortable.
Finally, don’t forget the shoes. Whatever shoes your child wears for their exam, it should be comfortable and fit well – they won’t be walking around while they’re doing their test, but they will be sitting in one spot for a while, and ill-fitting shoes will make their presence known, which is a massive distraction, not to mention very painful.
Sit Properly
Although you won’t be with your child when they’re taking their exam, if you can teach them how to sit properly, it’s something that will help them stay comfortable, even during a long exam.
Make sure they know how to sit in a way that’s not going to affect their back or shoulders, and see if you can find out what seats the school is using in advance so you know whether they’re ergonomic or not. If they’re not, you might need to get permission for your child to take a cushion to sit on, as they will help.
