My child has exams...now what?

My child has exams...now what?
You are sitting there, in rows, on uncomfortable chairs, head down writing, thinking, confused, or enjoying the fact you read the right textbook that morning. The silence is only broken by the squeaking of desks that are not stable and industrious scribbling around the room. You look up at the clock as you try to work out how much time remaining to complete the millions of questions still left to answer. It is stifling, sweat is dripping from your brow, your hands are clammy, and aching from writing. 
 
But you cannot stop, there are only five minutes left so you get back to it. 
 
You feel your heart pounding in your chest, as your writing gets messier in the panic of getting everything down on the paper. Time is up - pens down, exam finished. You hope you’ve done enough knowing that you cannot change it now. You wait in silence to be dismissed. On the way home you feel sick as your friend smugly tells you how easy it was, and you realise what you may have missed.  
 
Bringing back memories?! 
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How to Help Your Child Feel Good About Themselves: Tips for Raising Confident Kids

How to Help Your Child Feel Good About Themselves: Tips for Raising Confident Kids
If you're like most parents, you want your child to feel good about themselves. You may be wondering how you can help them become more confident and independent. Raising a confident child starts with setting a good example yourself. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for helping your child feel good about themselves and boost their confidence!
 
One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to be a good role model for your child. Show them that you are confident and comfortable in your own skin. Let them see you standing up for yourself and speaking your mind. This will help them understand that it's okay to be who they are and that they don't have to change themselves to please others.
 
It's also important to encourage your child to try new things and take risks. This will help them build their confidence and learn that it's okay to make mistakes. Encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and try something new, whether it's a new activity or just trying something different at school.
 
Finally, make sure to praise your child when they do something well. This will help them feel good about themselves and their accomplishments. Avoid criticism and instead focus on the positive. This will encourage them to keep trying new things and help them build their confidence.
 
These are all great suggestions for parents who want to help their children develop self-confidence. However, sometimes a child's low self-esteem is due to outside factors such as bullying from classmates or pressure from surrounding areas. As a teen, I had such high expectations of myself and wanted to please others so when I didn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve I felt like I was not ‘good enough’. I have shared my story in my book collaboration Letters to my Teenage Self which I hope will resonate and help teens today find hope in the struggles. If you suspect your child is struggling in this area, it's important to talk to them and get to the root of the problem. They may need extra support and encouragement from you to help them through this tough time.
 
What are some other ways you've helped your child build their confidence? Let me know in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you!
 
And remember, parents: you are your child's biggest cheerleader! Show them that you believe in them and watch their confidence soar!