Helping your teen pass exams

It's almost June and exam time is approaching! Your teenager, so full of life and so happy, becomes a ball of nerves until he loses his smile. Here are some tips to gently guide him towards passing his exams.

Exams:Stress for Teens…and Parents

The months of May and June are a very important and defining period for teenagers. And for good reason ! This is the last straight line before the patent or baccalaureate exams. It's now or never to give it your all. Your teenager will have to mobilize all his energy, his concentration and his efforts so that these years of preparation end in style with success and new horizons. For some, it will be high school, for others a college or even directly the job market.

This period of review causes stress for adolescents, but also for their parents who are ready to do anything for their children to succeed. But how to accompany them in this pivotal stage? How can we help them without being oppressive? For parents, to provide effective support to their teenagers, this is definitely not the time to panic.

Self-medication:be vigilant

Your teenager tells himself that a little sleeping pill or anxiolytic can't hurt him during this revision period:it's not true! Self-medication is very dangerous. Only a health professional can prescribe medication. On the other hand, Bach flowers, homeopathy, essential oils and herbs are safe and can soothe your anxious teen. However, it is strongly recommended to seek advice from a health professional before using these products, even if they are natural.

How to support a teenager during exam time?

As parents, you cannot revise in place of your teenager, nor go there on the day of the patent or the baccalaureate to answer questions. On the other hand, you can help him to be in good physical and mental shape for the big day. You can also make his life easier so that he concentrates all his energy on his revisions. Here are our tips for ensuring a healthy lifestyle for your teen:

• A balanced diet :to help your teenager save time in the morning and replenish his energy, prepare him a complete breakfast with a dairy product, a hot drink (tea, coffee or hot chocolate), a fresh fruit juice and whole grains (bread or muesli). Provide him with easy-to-eat foods in case you can't prepare a meal for him (pasta salad, for example). You can also stock up on granola bars for midday cravings. Avoid preparing foods that are too greasy or too hearty which could cause drowsiness. Not very practical for revising.
• A restful sleep :For your teen's days to be full and efficient, he needs a good night's sleep. During his night's sleep, your teenager's brain records the information acquired during the day. Make sure your child does not exceed a certain time for revisions. Allow him to go out with his friends from time to time so that he releases the pressure and thinks of something else.
• A moderate presence :your help will be very useful, especially for meals and household chores. If you feel your teen is really stressed, suggest physical activity (tennis, boxing, swimming, running) to clear his head. Be careful, however, not to be suffocating, or even oppressive, by talking to him only about the exams, or by transmitting your stress to him. Let him go at his own pace while still being a shoulder he can lean on. Just show him your support with a little text, encouragement, a note next to his lunch, etc.

D-1 how to be useful?

That's it, tomorrow will be the big day... Don't panic and don't leave anything to chance. Check the address of the exam location and estimate travel time. Make sure that your teenager has all the necessary equipment (whiteboard, eraser, compass, calculator, etc.) and the essential papers such as the summons and an identity document.

Your presence alongside your teenager is really beneficial for their revisions. Your little attentions and your support are essential for its success. That said, be careful not to be intrusive and give him his autonomy. Trust him while remaining available. With your good food and revisions, everything is in place for him to pass his exams.