How to ease stress of Year 12’ s testing times

Msomething along the lines of, “so, what is your plan for this afternoon’s session?” The aim is to get her to say something like, ” I’m finishing my English assessment”.

Then check in with her half way through to see if she is actually doing it. When done, get her to actually cross it off the list.

Work on one item at a time. When it comes to exams she needs to do the same with particular chapters of each subject not just generally say ” I am going to study English”. Then cross them off. This is learning to prioritise and keep to task.

As a parent, make sure she has healthy real food, exercises daily and gets solid sleep throughout the next four months.

All of these three will set her brain up to remember the best she can, everything she has managed to revise.

We know that one bad night’s sleep leads to brain fog the next day and is bad for her immune system.

So look after her health. Remember and remind her too that it doesn’t end at the end of Year 12. Iit is only one stepping stone to the future, there is more to come, so exhausting herself isn’t the aim. Email questions to aboutababy@ townsvillebulletin. com. au. Nicole Pierotti is a child psychologist who is an expert in helping solve sleep problems. Call 4724 2600 or go to babysmiles. com. au