Galway Advertiser 2004/2004_05_27/GA_2705_E1_018.pdf 

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Galway Advertiser

May 27 2004

NEWS

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FASHION

BEAUTY

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H E A LT H

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LIFE

MARY
Thousands of second level students are already counting down the days until the Junior and Leaving Certificate examination begin. Many feel they have too much to do and too little time in which to do it. Meanwhile parents are unsure what to do, fearing they will only increase the pressure on their children by asking too many questions while on the other hand, be accused of not caring if they do not show sufficient interest. The key to success lies somewhere in between, offering gentle encouragement and support and being there if needed. Here are some simple steps that parents can take to ease the burden on students and help them get through this fraught time successfully. * Avoid nagging and "I told you sos". If your children have done very little study all year, now is not the time to remind them of this. You will achieve nothing but a king-size headache if you rant and rave and offer unwanted advice. * Show interest in your child's imminent exams in practical ways by knowing which one takes place each day and at what times they occur. Then, you and the rest of the household, can work around those dates and hours. poor reaction times. Drinking water frequently throughout the day will help prevent dehydration. Discourage smoking and drinking too much coffee. Smoking depletes the oxygen levels in the bloodstream and reduces the amount of oxygen going to the brain. Too much caffeine will give an artificial boost but will make one feel more tired as a result * Avoid comparisons. If you have older, academically successful children, do not canonise them. No angstridden student wants to hear about the sibling who sailed through every exam with straight As. * Encourage exercise - it improves blood flow to the brain. It also provides a welcome break from revision as well as easing muscle tension and relieving stress. Walking, swimming and cycling are excellent choices. * Be positive. If you have any doubts about how your child will perform on the day, keep them to yourself. Be optimistic and sunny in your thoughts and predictions. This will rub off on your child and help him or her to perform well * Sleep is another important consideration. Exam students need plenty of it if they are to remain alert and energetic. Many will burn the midnight oil in the run-up to the exams but should not stay up all night studying. Their ability to absorb information decreases with each hour of unbroken study. Initially, it's 60 per cent absorption of the subject, for the next hour it's only 40 per cent and then 20 per cent for the next if they do not take a break. They will perform much better if they have at least eight hours sleep * Avoid talking about exam results. This will only distract your children and increase anxiety. Instead, help them to stay focused on the present and direct all their energies into this area * Give plenty of tender, loving care. Let them know you appreciate they are doing their best and stress this is all you expect. Offer plenty of support and encouragement and make

O'CONNOR

A testing time how parents can help
* Give plenty of support and be available if your children want to talk over their worries and fears. Psychologists say students fare better at exams when they approach them in the safe knowledge that whatever the results, they will not lose the love and respect of their parents. While parents need to encourage their children to adopt a positive, responsible approach to both study and exams, their love for their children should not be conditional * Create a calm, warm atmosphere in the home which is conducive to study. Start by being calm yourself. Frazzled parents are no help to preexam students. Try not to be too invasive or inquisitive. It is difficult enough for teenagers to have to apply themselves to study without having to deal with the Spanish Inquisition as well. Encourage discussion about exams and the preparation for them but avoid prying * Provide a healthy diet. Get them to eat breakfast. Studies show it helps students address problems more creatively. Encourage them to eat regularly, too. Not eating enough can cause memory and attention problems and lead to

Students often benefit from studying with their peers.

allowances for frayed tempers, doors slamming and "I hate you, you're the worst parent ever" pronouncements. * Remove all external stressors, such as streams of unexpected visitors who will distract the student. Ensure your child has somewhere warm and comfortable in which to study. Good lighting, ventilation and adequate heating are important. Make sure there is a good work surface with space for text books and writing paper and a firm straight backed chair. If there are other children in the family, ask them to co-operate in creating a calm, harmonious

home by keeping noise levels down * Offer practical support. If your child is too busy to stock up on exam materials, offer to get them or to do other timesaving errands. The less pressure on the exam student, the better * Advise them not to study late the night before the exam. Also, discourage them from attempting to learn new and difficult material. Any study time at this stage should be used to refresh their memory on material already revised. Get them to assemble the things they will need for the

next day and to set the alarm to waken at a reasonable hour. * On the day of the exam urge them to get up early and do things steadily to avoid getting in a fluster. They should try to have some breakfast even if they do not feel like eating. Most people will have been fasting for up to eight or 10 hours. No-one can perform well on an empty stomach. Even tea and toast will provide a necessary boost. Ensure they are wearing comfortable clothes. Dressing in layers is a good idea because they can remove items easily if they feel warm.

This weekend and all next week

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LINGERIE

Some of Mean Scoil Mhuire, Newtownsmith's, Leaving Cert class 2004. Photo:- Mike Shaughnessy