Dubai, United Arab Emirates - May 20, 2019:   Exam season is nearly upon us, which can be a very stressful time for both students and their parents.  

We all want to support our children as best as we can during this important time of year and there are many things that you can do as a parent to help your children manage the exam pressure in a constructive way.

 

From our experience as educators, here are some ideas of what parents can do to help ease the stress of the exam period and ensure the best possible results are achieved at the end of the day:

 

1. Help children to create a conducive learning space, away from distractions such as the TV or loud noises

 

2. Work with your children to create a realistic schedule. Break large tasks up so they do not seem overwhelming

 

3. Ensure your children’s sleep patterns are regular – working late every night will eventually impair productivity and learning 

 

4. Healthy meals are essential – research has proven that eating the right types of food can have a significant impact on developing a child’s ability to focus and retain information

 

5. To avoid potential learning gaps, parents need to ensure that student attendance is regular and avoid unexplained absences throughout the year

 

6. Most importantly, nothing can replace parental support, encouragement and reassurance. Mistakes inform progress and we are all always in a learning curve!

 

Studying During Ramadan

 

This year, the Holy Month of Ramadan falls in the middle of term time adding an additional challenge to students in the month before the exam period. Here are my top pieces of advice for students studying during Ramadan.

 

• It is very important that you set yourself a daily schedule of studying, sleeping and praying.

This will help manage your day in the most efficient and energy-conserving way possible. For example, try to study after breaking your fast and sleep after going back from school

 

• Do not leave revision to the last minute – plan your revision carefully

 

 

• Take a break – revising for hours on end is not productive. Try taking a 10-15 minute break after every hour of study 

 

• During Iftar and Suhoor ensure you eat a healthy, balanced meal and be careful to hydrate as much as you can

 

• Use your energy wisely during the school week and at weekends – this is a very important time for you. Try and keep your sleeping pattern as regular as possible and don’t put too much pressure on yourself during the day when your body is already under stress from fasting.

 

• Stay positive, revise with friends and share the joy and happiness of the Holy Month