Test anxiety is common at every age and with standardized testing beginning in elementary school, unfortunately even our little ones are confronting it! Here are a few more tips to reinforce and build on what the school has recommended:

1. Sleep is very important: kids that are tired experience greater levels of stress--both emotionally and even physiologically. Stress  increases nervousness and test anxiety. Make sure your child is getting at least eight or more hours of sleep every night (this is true, not only during test-taking times!)

2. The recommendation to not rush is also a great one: when you rush to school, you've already increased your child's stress level so she is beginning the day at a heightened level of anxiety and worry. Wake up a few minutes earlier, organize backpacks and clothes the night before and keep the routine going, so that the morning moves along smoothly and everyone gets to school with no yelling, fighting or pressure.

3. Don't talk about the test except in positive terms. Help your child understand that this is not important in any way that will impact on her future. Explain that it is only one test and that no matter how important the school has made it seem, one test isn't that important and you will not feel any different about your child no matter how she does on the test. Explain that the job of tests is to help us see which things we are good at and which things we need to keep working on, that's it. We don't have to worry about the 'grade' we get on them.

4. Explain that she should focus on one problem at a time and do the ones she knows first, skipping the harder ones and come back to them later. If she really doesn't know one, don't worry about it--everyone will miss some of them, not just her.

5. Tell her that it's normal to be a little bit worried--everyone is and it is to be expected.

Good wishes and Great parenting!

Dr. Susan Bartell
JustAsk Expert
www.drsusanbartell.com
Twitter @drsusanbartell
NEW book "The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask"