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Ok, let's be honest, when your little darlings are going through their GCSE exams, things can get stressful! For everyone in the vicinity. Revising for exams is an art form. Plain and simple. Some are better than others, but if one thing's for sure, no matter how accomplished a reviser your son or daughter is... parents... you can help!
Firstly, recognising how stressful these exams are, is important. There's a lot of pressure put on kids nowadays and being understanding of the fact that they're likely to be stressed, is half the battle. Also, making sure that all the family are on board will help too. Younger siblings can be a real distraction, as can older ones, but if they can be supportive too, things'll be a lot easier.
I recommend helping out by having a specific area in the house, which is devoted entirely to revision. Somewhere quiet (background telly noise is a no no), with a fair amount of space (a pinboard on the wall is really useful too) and most importantly, somewhere that can be walked away from completely when a revision session is over. And you can be safe in the knowledge that everything will be in the same place when it's returned to. Some kids have a tendency to have revision notes and books scattered all over the place - this can be detrimental - sheets of A4 blown away by an open window, dog eats notebook, Dad trips over thesaurus etc. Be firm and keep an eye on this. I promise it will help.
A revision timetable is important. Deadlines, exam dates etc can all go on it. It makes everything seem clearer and there's a real sense of achievement when you cross things off it. This is something your son or daughter should do on their own as it's kind of a personal thing, but helping with it, or suggesting it in the first place is great. You'll then be able to keep an eye on the schedule - but be warned not to get to strict on this. A gentle nudge toward the schedule is much better than cracking the whip - "It's 4.30 on the dot, and time for Shakespeare!" However, you can be really on the ball with break times. One hour revision, 15 minutes off is ideal. Have a few nice treats prepared? A cuppa, a biscuit and some fresh air is perfect!
Suggest writing a list of points that might need recapping by teacher or tutor. Your son or daughter should not be shy about asking for help. Plus, suggest having them explain what they are revising to you. If they understand it well enough to enlighten you, chances are it's pretty solid in their head.
The night before an exam, make sure their bag is packed ready to go, they have all the equipment they need, they get to bed with a good 8 hours, they know the time and location of the exam and most importantly... tell them GOOD LUCK! No pressure... do your best. If you know they've put the work in, and they're prepared, all that's left to do is to get in there and do the best they can.
And finally... KEEP POSITIVE. There will be snipes, and strops and stresses no doubt! It's a hard time. But if you keep chipper, help where you can, keep out the way when you can, you can make this time a lot easier for the whole family and help you son or daughter reach their full potential.
GOOD LUCK!
