IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Time to Test Positive
With some 43 % of parents now saying that their child ’ s self-esteem is linked to the grades they achieve in school , now is the time to reclaim and reframe positive testing - away from the nightmare Covid-sphere and the impact the dreaded ‘ rona has had on examinations over the past few years - and instead into a happy and healthy approach to the myriad of tests and exams that dominate the educational landscape .
Whether preparing for SATs , the Kent Test , GCSEs , A-Levels , or anything in between , the most practical and supportive approach is to plan out the testing / examinations journey . Start pre-exam with a schedule for revision with regular breaks which should include outside time for walking or play , regular snack / meal breaks , and bite-sized slots for different subjects . The night before , have an evening away from the books and past-papers and instead have games night , reading time and a good dose of fresh air to aid a great night ’ s sleep . On the day , plan wake-up times , what ’ s going to be on the table for breakfast - factoring in some good slow-releasing , energyboosting , healthy carbs and protein - and get uniform and bags ready in advance to take away that chaotic morning search for protractors , shoes and ID badges . Post-exam , it is really important to have something to look forward to . Perhaps it ’ s a trip to the cinema , a favourite takeaway or a simple walk along the seafront ; whatever floats your child ’ s boat it ’ s great to reward hard work before results day .
Journey of the Journal
It has come as no surprise to those in the education and mental health sectors that the impact of the pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on mental health across the board , particularly in those of school age who have missed significant chunks of communication , skills and learning development .
With anxiety levels increasing in school-age children , a great way to harness worry-management is through the use of journaling . For younger children it can be a way of writing down things they are nervous or worried about ; this can either be kept , or screwed up and thrown away with the ‘ worry fairies ’. For older students , writing their own train of thought is a great tension reliever . Whatever their age , empower your child to keep writing , forget about spelling and grammar , and get them to keep going until it ’ s all out , then encourage them to look back at what they have written in a few weeks , confident in the knowledge that their ‘ future selves ’ will recognise that they have overcome many of the challenges , worries and concerns that were bothering them - building resilience and a sense of accomplishment . Oh , and of course , all the while developing handwriting , spelling , vocabulary and creativity too !
Check Eye Health
With our younger generations born and raised with screens it should perhaps come as no surprise that eye doctors across the country are seeing an increase in eye issues in children , particularly eye strain , myopia or short-sightedness . With children heading back to school in September , any eye health issues that go undetected could affect their vision , concentration and performance . Optician Khuram Sarwar from Feel Good Contacts ( www . feelgoodcontacts . com ) not only recommends booking an eye appointment to coincide with the start of the new term but also to establish a good bedtime routine that limits screen time . “ Getting enough sleep is important for staying alert during the school day , so gradually start to limit screen time ,” he recommends . “ The blue light emitted from screens causes digital eye strain , headaches and hampers sleep as it tricks your body into thinking it ’ s still daytime keeping you awake . Use the extra time you have with your child to talk , read and do eye yoga together .”
Feel Good Contacts have also identified the following symptoms to look out for in your child to detect any potential eye health issues :
• Difficulty reading – they may read slower than usual , make numerous mistakes while reading the text , skip words or perhaps jumble the order of the words while reading . They may also hold the books closer or further from their face .
• Continuously squinting to see things .
• White or greyish-white colour in the pupil – this can sometimes be a sign of cataracts , corneal ulcer , retinoblastoma ( eye cancer in children ) or uveitis .
• Eyes that are misaligned , i . e ., they turn outwards , look crossed or don ' t focus together .
• Eyes that flutter quickly from side to side or up and down .
• Eyes that are consistently watery , excrete puss , feel itchy or look red – these are common symptoms of eye infections .
• Eyes that are sensitive to light – this could be a sign of many conditions including cataracts and epilepsy .
Lead Learning by Example
The most positive impact you can have on your child ’ s learning is to lead by example . You don ’ t need to crack out the Tolstoy or begin your PhD , but you should commit to limiting your own home screen time and invest in shared educational experiences be that talking , arts and crafts , cooking together , or days out to historical and educational sites ; even being seen to read a magazine or newspaper genuinely encourages home reading . And , of course , be genuinely invested in the subjects that motivate your child , rewarding hard work and new knowledge gained over high attainment every time .
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