- Name it. Have her say what, specifically, is making her feel stressed. Maybe she’s afraid she’ll forget everything she studied or she doesn’t know what to say to her friend.
- Focus on solutions. Help your youngster think of ways she could relieve some pressure. She might review her study guide one last time the morning of the test or write a note to her friend saying she misses her and wants to play.
- Think positive. Remind your child of tests she did well on or ways she resolved problems with friends in the past. Suggest inspiring phrases she could say to herself, such as, “I know I can do it!”
Independent Me!
Let her try. Out of habit, you might do tasks that your child could do for herself. If you’ve always done her laundry, for instance, you may not realize she’s able to do it on her own. Show her the steps, and see how she does with it for a week. If she isn’t quite ready, work alongside her a few more times until she can handle it herself.
Resist “fixing” it. Your youngster probably won’t make her sandwich or pack her overnight bag exactly the way you would. But she will feel more independent if she does it her way. If she struggles, offer gentle support. Say she’s trying to put a big batch of leftovers into a small container. You could set out a bigger one, and suggest that she try again.
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