Being in matric is a phase filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand, your child may be excited about entering their final year of schooling and making it a memorable one. On the other hand, they may find themselves overwhelmed with the workload.
Meanwhile, the pressure of living up to the expectations of people in their family, their friends, teachers, and even their own aspirations does not make it any easier. This could make your child feel extremely overwhelmed and filled with anxiety, while also having sleepless nights.
For parents who are not sure where they can help or assist in making the journey a pleasant one, Life Choices has some tools to help.
Affirm and encourage your child: Whenever it seems as if your child is feeling down, it is important to remind them about some of their strengths. The trick in this is to try and identify what those strengths are and then acknowledge them. This will boost their confidence and give them an “I can do it” attitude.
Be informed: There are so many things to do in a matric year, so it is important to keep up to date with what is going on. Check when applications for university open, find out what the requirements are, as well as the dates for the National Benchmark Test (NBTs) and bursaries. This will help your plan better.
Encourage a life of balance: Spending several hours in front of a desk will increase the levels of anxiety. It is therefore important to encourage your child to go out, get some fresh air, do some exercise, and even play some video games. This will help ease stress. Creating a study timetable is one of the best ways to ensure a balanced life.
Take care of your own mental health: For you to help your child cope with the pressures of life and give out sound advice, it is important that you take time out to relax, meditate. This will have you functioning at your optimal best.
Ask for assistance: Make use of the resources at school, home family as well as professional help to assist when things get too difficult.
Also see: How to build a non-toxic relationship with your kids
