5 things you can do to help your college student during the stressful final exam time.

1. It’s Final Exam Time: What’s a
College Parent to Do?
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2. How to Help Your Student During the Final Exam Time
Sometimes, it may seem as though one of the most difficult positions
for a college parent to be in, is the situation when you know that
your student is struggling and you feel as though you cannot do a lot
to help. Sometimes final exam period may feel like one of those
times. You can’t take the exams for your child. You may be too far
away to help him study (and you probably shouldn’t be doing that
at this point anyway). You know that your student is stressed, and
exhausted, and you must simply stand back.
Actually, you may not be completely helpless. There are several
ways in which you might help at this final exam time.

3. Encouragement
When you talk to your student, just give plenty of
encouragement. Let her know that you understand that
she’s under stress. Let her know that you’re proud of her for
doing what she’s doing. Remind her that she will get
through this.

4. Share A Few Tips
Share a few tips with her
about getting through
finals. Remind her to
get rest, to organize her
time, to get help
studying, to stay
focused.
Photo: Dark Botxy
There are many sources of good suggestions, but there’s a great list
provided by Nate Desmond at Debt Free Scholar in his post “10
Little Known Ways to Survive Finals Week”. A few good tips can
help your student feel as though she is in control of what happens
during this stressful time. But be careful not to overwhelm her. Give
suggestions, then step back. She may listen or she may not. She
will need to get through this her way.

5. Send Bits of Love
Send bits of
encouragement.
A card that arrives
in her mailbox, a
funny comic strip,
an e-card, a care
package from
home, can brighten
a day.
Photo: winterofdiscontent

6. Check Your Student’s Exam Schedule
Before you make any
necessary arrangements
for travel home, make sure
you check your student’s
exam schedule.
It is often difficult, and
sometimes not possible, to
make special
arrangements to take an
exam at an alternate time.
Be careful that you don’t
add pressure on your
student to try to work an
exam schedule around
travel arrangements if this
can be helped.
Photo: spdd

7. Help Them Stay Focused
Photo: t.animal
Try not to bother your student with issues from home during this
time if you can help it. Of course, you want to stay connected
and talk about anything important, and some issues can’t
wait. But if there is anything going on at home that can wait
until after exams, try to wait. Your student needs to be able to
stay focused on her schoolwork right now, not worry about
anything else.
Article brought to you by Vicki Nelson. Read the complete article here.

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