Board exams: How to encourage your child for scoring good marks without building peer pressure

The CBSE Class 10 and 12 Board exams are approaching, and students are preparing with various strategies in a focused manner. This is a crucial time for students as they face a rigorous study schedule and expectations. While schools have counselling mechanisms to help students cope with exam anxiety, it is also a challenging time for parents. They should support their children and motivate them during the board exam preparation stage to prevent excessive stress and enable them to excel in the exam.

Let’s explore various strategies parents can employ to maintain their child's motivation level during the CBSE Board Exams preparation phase.

Parents should celebrate children's achievements, value their hard work, and not shy away from rewarding them during failures. Parents should ensure that their children know that they are always there to support them, ensuring they feel valued and appreciated.

Students often struggle with creating and executing study plans for CBSE Board exams. Parents can help by providing guidance on creating an effective and interesting schedule, as well as allowing space for other activities.

Parents should keep communication channels open, allowing their child to express their feelings, including peer pressure. They should be a supportive listener and avoid pressuring them with constant questioning about their performance. Building a healthy relationship with the child involves trusting them through healthy conversations, discussing topics that excite them like sports, food, and friends, and ensuring they can trust their parents.

According to Alka Kapur, Principal, Modern Public School, “Parents should recognize the pressure students already face and avoid overburdening them with excessive expectations. They should help their children set achievable short-term and long-term goals and break down larger goals into smaller tasks to make progress more manageable.”

Parents should encourage their children to accept failures gracefully and work harder for the CBSE Board exams, as failures are a part of life and should be seen as a stepping stone to success. Also, they should help their children find personal reasons for studying, such as interest in the subject matter or future career aspirations.

Parents should emphasize the importance of their child's mental and physical wellbeing in preparation for the CBSE board exam, emphasizing that they should strive for success without compromising their mental and physical health, and avoid using harsh language.

Parents should discuss the child's progress and offer assistance as needed. They can share their board exam experience and strategies, but avoid imposing them on the child, ensuring they understand and benefit from their guidance.

Most importantly, parents need to discourage comparing their child to their peers or siblings. They should highlight their unique talents and accomplishments, emphasizing individual growth.
By focusing on the child's personal development, fostering a positive attitude towards learning, and avoiding comparisons, parents can provide support without creating unnecessary peer pressure during the CBSE exams.