Parents can help their children with learning disabilities avoid or lessen their fears of taking tests. Being afraid to take tests is also known as test anxiety, and can develop into a chronic problem. The number one reason for test anxiety in children is a poor history of school performance that can usually be traced to a learning disability or an underlying psychological issue.
The sooner test anxiety is stopped, the better off the child will be. When a child is afraid of taking tests she will have difficulty doing well in school, and as a result her fear will increase. This can eventually hurt her self-esteem. There are many ways in which parents can help children overcome this fear at home by teaching them how to better prepare for their exams, and also providing them with relaxation techniques.
Symptoms and Reasons for Fear of Taking Tests
There are many underlying reasons for test anxiety in children. Some of the more common causes for test taking fears are:
- History of inadequate school performance
- Poor study habits
- Ill-preparation
- Lack of understanding of a topic or lesson
- Low self-esteem
- Fear of failure
- Underlying anxiety disorder
- Underlying learning disorder in math, reading, etc
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD, or other psychological disorder)
How do you know when a child has test anxiety? Some of the symptoms and signs of this particular fear are listed below:
- Insomnia
- Obsession of upcoming tests
- Sweating, shaking and pounding heart
- Mind goes blank during exams
- Knowledge of subject does not translate on test
- Visible panic, panic attacks
- Headaches, nausea, vomiting
- Memory issues
- Excessive crying or mood swings as exam dates approach
When a child develops test anxiety, it is a good idea to watch for underlying causes like those listed above. If an additional problem is suspected, parents should seek the guidance of the child’s classroom teacher, school psychologist or outside professional help.
Solutions for Test Anxiety – Teach Test Taking Skills
Working with the classroom teacher, parents should be able to help their child with test anxiety learn how to cope with fears and lessen bothersome physical symptoms. Support from a child's parents is so crucial. Although parents may not know some of the material being taught in the classroom, they should be able to help out by asking questions and providing the necessary assistance.
Here is a list of tips and ideas for parents to help their children reduce fear of taking tests:
- Teach relaxation techniques – Parents can help their children learn breathing exercises, and positive visualization that they can do during testing when they feel nervous.
- Help child prepare – Children can be taught ways of better preparing themselves for tests. Organization of notes and homework using binders of different colors and developing study guides can be encouraged, for example.
- Study with child – Ask the child questions about the subject they are learning. Teach the child how to review spelling words for several minutes per day, instead of cramming.
- Practice test taking at home – Ask the teacher to provide you with an example test or list of questions for your child to practice his test taking skills. Use a timer.
- Stay on schedule – Make sure the child is on a good nighttime schedule that includes a predictable bedtime routine and healthy eating habits.
Taking tests can be scary for many children. But when a child develops symptoms of test anxiety, she will need the support, help and guidance of her parents, teachers and perhaps professional help. By learning about the symptoms and causes of test anxiety, parents can help their child overcome this potentially debilitating academic problem by providing her with useful, effective solutions.
Sources:
Greene, Lawrence, J., Roadblocks to Learning. NY: Warner Books, Inc., 2002.
Cooley, Myles L., Teaching Kids With Mental Health & Learning Disorders in the Regular Classroom. MN: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., 2007.
Last, Cynthia G., Help for Worried Kids. NY: The Guilford Press, 2006.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
