5 TEST DAY TIPS, 4-8 Just the thought of taking a test can be scary. Children can get sick or lose sleep by worrying about tests. Alleviate your child’s test anxiety by being supportive and encouraging him to begin studying early. To make sure your child enters the test prepared and with the right attitude, use these five tips. Remind him to listen to instructions. He should listen carefully when the teacher reads the directions. When giving your child practice tests, try giving instructions so your child feels more confident on test day. Avoid pressuring your child. Let your child know you love him regardless of his test results. Avoid giving rewards for high grades as this can put pressure on children unnecessarily. Wake up at least 30 minutes early. Waking up early can help a child improve her focus when she is taking tests. Make sure your child arrives early. While it seems counterintuitive, once your child is outside her classroom, she will be reassured. She can no longer worry about being late to the test. It is likely that she would be calmer than she would have been at home. Make learning the ultimate goal. Help your child understand that he is in school to learn not receive perfect test scores. Once you tell your child he needs to focus on learning and not on getting an A, he will feel less worried when it comes around to test day. By Payal Uttum