effect of exam stress on children

 The increasing pressure on children to excel academically has led to a concerning trend known as exam phobia, where students experience significant anxiety and stress surrounding examinations. This pressure often stems from high expectations set by parents and teachers, a competitive education system, and societal comparisons. fear of failure can manifest in various ways, including nervousness, lack of appetite, and poor performance.

Key Causes of Exam Stress:

1. Pressure for Good Grades: Students feel compelled to achieve high marks to meet parental and societal expectations.
2. High Expectations: Parents often push their children to outperform peers, leading to anxiety.
3. Competitiveness: The education system emphasizes grades over holistic development, creating a stressful environment.
4. Fear of Rejection and Ridicule: Children worry about disappointing their parents, teachers, and peers, which exacerbates their anxiety.

Impact on Children:

• Physical Symptoms: Stress leads to insomnia, loss of appetite, and increased nervousness.
• Mental Health: Prolonged anxiety may result in depression and decreased self-esteem.
• Academic Performance: Ironically, the stress can hinder students' ability to perform well in exams.

Strategies to Overcome Exam Phobia:

1. Systematic Preparation: Children should create a structured study schedule, starting with subjects they find most challenging.
2. Positive Reinforcement: Parents and teachers should encourage a growth mindset, emphasizing that failure is a part of learning, not a defeat.
3. Practice and Familiarization: Solving previous years' question papers can help students feel more prepared and reduce anxiety.
4. Emotional Support: Parents should offer unconditional support, reassuring children that they will not face punishment for poor performance.

Role of Parents:

Parents play a crucial role in alleviating exam stress. By fostering a supportive environment, encouraging their children, and helping them develop effective study habits, parents can significantly enhance their children's confidence and performance.

Conclusion:

The key to overcoming exam phobia lies in addressing the root causes of stress and fostering a supportive atmosphere that prioritizes learning and personal growth over mere grades. By doing so, children can approach exams with confidence and resilience, ultimately achieving success in both academics and life.

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BASIC STEPS TO OVERCOME exam Stress

The Final Exam:

Stress is good for our life during exam, it is the driving force for us to prepare in a better way to score more.
Some of the students before exams when in stress are focused and read the questions only which they may get in exams.
Its the common practice of many students but not possible for some of the students.

Stress is bad for our life during exam, it is the force which stops us from prepare in a better way to score more.
But we start worrying that we may forget what we read , we may fail in exam, we may meet with an accident, we may get fever or headache.
Some of them due to over stress feel that they forget what they have read due to fear they don't really.

FAILURE MEANS DELAY NOT DEFEAT i.e., delay in remembering what we have read

As the time of examination approaches nearer or on the examination day.
we grow more anxious, as the time lessen the anxiety increases more and our breathe fasten.
So try to breathe slowly and deeply.

Try to smile before the exam and when you feel tensed during reading the exam paper if you feel you don't know any of the question.

Common reactions to exam stress

PHYSICAL:

Sleep disturbances , changes in appetite, Cold and other respiratory infections, headaches and migraine, Fast and shallow breathing, Muscle tension, Frequent urge to pass urine

PSYCHOLOGICAL:

Anxiety, withdrawn or restlessness, Low self Esteem, Sadness, Irritability, Frustration and Agression, Lack of concentration, Unable to relax.

Due to this sleep disorders it leads to loss appetite – cold, headache or both –irritabilty –frustation –problem in relaxing-concentration problem- relationship issues

Parents should be flexible during exam times, Don't set any goals ,don't bribe the child . Being tensed it would make child nervous . Let play,watch T.V, Sleep but not as usual Same them its exam time but do not repeat it over a period of time regularly.

Strong relationship exists between the food and the mental state of person

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