The most wonderful time of the year starts with final papers and exams. We must all help minimize our student’s stress. Here are slightly edited tips from Qualifax. Good luck!

1. Know your child’s entire exam schedule.

2. Ensure your child is present. Yes, it sounds ridiculous, but with both parents working in many homes, it can happen that someone forgets to wake the student.

3. Make a checklist of daily requirements based on each day’s papers/tests.

4. Listen to the story of their day – and move on. Do not review in detail the errors or omissions they may have made. Such a process increases stress levels. Simply allow them the time and space to tell their story and move on.

5. Help them to focus on the next day’s papers/tests. Ask “What is up next?” “Are there any predictable questions?”

6. Help them to maintain a balanced daily routine. You should ensure your child maintains a proper balance between study and rest. After an exam, they need time to rest and recharge before they can do any beneficial study. Late-night study sessions should be avoided.

7. A good night’s sleep always improves examination performance. All study should end at least an hour before bed to allow the student to unwind.

8. You are what you eat. As a parent, you should try to ensure that your child eats and drinks nutritious food during the coming week. Grazing on junk food is very tempting at times of increased stress. Avoid this.

9 Don’t overhype the importance of any examination. Make it clear to your kids that your love and regard for them is in no way dependent on how they perform. This affirmation is the best gift you can give them on the eve of their exams.

10. Make sure your child continues to mix with friends and family. Don’t isolate them in the study room. Contact with their peers is very important to maintaining their spirits. You can also support them and lift their spirits.

Written by Brian Mooney (Guidance Counselor), originally published in the Irish Times