Children from 3rd grade of Primary need to prepare some exams and tests that are quite important for them, and it is that they begin the exams and according to the current educational system, they need to pass them in order to be academically successful. It is important that if you have school-age children, you can teach them to prepare for their exams and not get frustrated because they think they are not capable. With your guidance and help they will be able to pass any exam.
Exams are important moments in your children's school life. Younger children need more help than older children to prepare for tests. The guidance that parents provide in the early stages will allow children to understand how they should study with discipline and dedication now and in the future.
With younger children it will be necessary to dedicate more time, and those who are somewhat older may present other types of problems such as not wanting to study, disobedience or rebelling, so they will need more empathy, understanding and tact when it comes to be able to help them with the study. Next I am going to give you some tips to be able to help your children before the exams if they are between 3rd and 5th grade of Primary.
Preparation is important
For a child to start studying and to realize that it is something important to do, it is necessary that he be able to have the necessary conditions before anything else to be able to carry out the study activity. It is strictly forbidden to allow a child to study while watching television or while you are doing other things that may distract you from concentrating on the knowledge you need to acquire. While it is true that it is necessary to be flexible and adapt to the needs of the little ones (so as not to overwhelm them and make them frustrated), it is important to establish routines that help them concentrate.
To achieve this, it will be necessary to take some aspects into account:
- Have a fixed place of study where the child can study quietly and without distractions. Your bedroom or study room would be ideal. It is absolutely necessary to prevent children from studying in common areas or passing through.
- Create a good atmosphere study. The room should be well lit, not too hot or too cold, that is, with an optimal temperature. It is necessary that it has good natural and artificial lighting so that children can study without straining their eyes.
- It's necessary that have a desk where you can study and where you can have everything you need in terms of studying at hand. Likewise, it is important that they have a good ergonomic chair to facilitate posture.
- Mobile devices or any screen should be out of reach during study times.
- They must perform 10 minute rest periods for every 50 minutes of study.
The study should never be left to the last minute
Children should never be allowed to postpone their study until a day before the exam. You must have the record of studying every day after school the contents that have been given in class, and then when an exam approaches you must study the corresponding syllabus in the study hour dedicated to the exams.
If you leave the study for the last day, it will only increase your levels of anxiety and stress. Preparing for an exam is the key to success. As a father or mother, you should not listen to any excuse to postpone the study nor do you believe the "it's very easy" or "I already know everything." The best course is the one that is studied every day, even if it is not possible to do this, then you must ensure that the child begins to prepare for the exams at least two or three weeks in advance.
Get to know your child to find out what they need
What children don't need is for parents to burden them or force them to study. Children should start studying voluntarily and because they believe it is the best for them and for their academic success. A child who does not want to study does not matter if he is locked in his bedroom for 3 hours, he will not study well and all of you will have wasted your time.
You need to know your child well to know exactly what he needs to ensure his academic success. Do not impose yourself on your children, just search and find what they need. Some children require more support, while others are able to study on their own and achieve good results… this will depend on the nature of your children. But whatever their nature, they must know that you will be by their side to help them all the time, so they will feel the importance of study and the security of your support if they need it.
Reading is not enough
There are parents (and children) who think that just reading the subject is a good way to study, but the reality is that children need to read, understand and remember the concepts in order to develop them on the test. So it is important that children begin to read, understand, underline the most important ideas, organize them in diagrams and above all, to review. For the review you will have to ask them random questions about the subject to know that they have understood what they have studied (and that they have not done a study of memory without compression, something that is not useful at all for an exam or to obtain knowledge).
Other important things to help them
- Create a study routine, with a calendar and schedule of activities
- Promote the study of the subjects that present more difficulties, offer them professional support if necessary
- Trust your children and their abilities
- Offer them emotional and academic support
- Teach them relaxation techniques for the most difficult moments
- Children must be well nourished and have had enough sleep to perform well in the study
With these tips it will be easier for children to study successfully for an exam, but remember that at these ages, you will need your support and understanding ... without stress and without threats. They must understand through your love how important study is for their future.