May and June exam season is a stressful time for many families, with children in Year 11 and Year 13 taking exams that will shape the rest of their lives. Here are some ideas for parents living through this difficult academic period.

A regular routine for the best results

Exam revision is a slog, but effective study will stand your teenager in good stead, and keep them confident and resilient throughout the exam weeks.

A regular routine will help your child to keep control of their time. During study leave it can help to encourage regular sit-down mealtimes with snacks at elevenses and teatime as this breaks up the day. It also promotes healthy eating and regular hydration. But if that’s not possible, then keep healthy snacks and drinks available at home, or slip them a fiver for a meal deal.

Make time for self-care

Self-care for teenagers is not just about taking pampering bubble baths (although if a luxurious home spa experience is your child’s idea of self-care heaven, then take a look at our post on improving your bathroom).

For some young people, self-care might be relaxing for an hour with a video game, perhaps with online friends; for others it could be a vigorous exercise routine, or a walk in a park or nature reserve, or twenty minutes watching the waves on a beach. Offer your teenager various options for free time during exam season, but don’t take it personally if they make their own arrangements.

Self-care for teenagers also encompasses a balanced diet, regular hydration and good sleep habits. Ensure their bedroom is set up for sleep during exam time. Help them to keep it tidy and (more or less) clean, and deal with unwanted light and noise.

Look to your own self-care as well. You can’t take the exams for your child; but you can provide a calm presence at home to support their success. This could mean, for example, taking a break from a social or volunteering commitment; or it could mean taking some leave from work to ensure you are fully present at home.

Make space for distraction-free study

During exam time, a quiet, distraction-free place to study is key to success. If their desk is typically covered with clothing or general clutter, offer support with tidying. When time and energy are short, you could even shovel clutter into a box and put it into storage – but do set a date to retrieve it again and sort through it.

Although video games are, for some, a relaxing, sociable activity, if you know your child has trouble regulating their gaming, consider putting the games console and controllers into storage outside the home to remove temptation altogether during key exams. This conversation is likely to go better if you frame it as a solution to distraction, rather than a punishment; and negotiate a date to get the console out of storage again. You can insure your stored goods – including games consoles – for a fixed term when you use Store and Insure. Get a quote to see how self-storage insurance works.

Keep talking

Some children are more communicative than others, and most parents have experienced the grumpy teenage grunt in response to a cheery greeting or question – again, don’t take it personally.

During stressful times like exam season, be ready to listen when your child wants to speak. But you can learn all sorts about your child’s state of mind from casual chats on car journeys or while waiting for the microwave to ping or the kettle to boil.

Teenagers may want to talk to someone other than their parents during a difficult academic period – and a fresh perspective can be helpful. The charity Young Minds can signpost local and national services; and your child’s school can help, too.

And if your teenager really doesn’t want to chat, do keep communicating all the same – a funny meme shared on their phone, or a sticky note on their door will let them know they’re on your mind.

Long-term thinking during exam season

Attaining the best GCSEs and A-levels possible widens opportunities for young people – but really, there are very few life paths that depend solely on the result of a single exam. People’s careers vary; and the standard path is not the only way for your child to reach their potential.