“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” – Mary Dunbar
Our educational system has evolved drastically over the last couple of years. However, we still have a long way to go in terms of how we perceive the concepts of learning, failure, and self-worth. “We” here refers to both parents as well as children. It can be challenging to explain to your children that PSLE results do not leave permanent marks on one’s life and genuinely mean it, given that you as a parent come from a generation where the high-stakes exam truly felt like it would make or break your future.
A young child losing all confidence in oneself is the worst outcome that can occur after receiving a poor PSLE result. The damage this can bring to one’s mental health, or in more severe circumstances their self-esteem and self-efficacy, can result in long term adversities. If a child’s self-worth is purely focused on ability and they receive affection and affirmation only when they perform well on a test, failure can have a catastrophic effect on their sense of self-worth.
Children need to learn to show more compassion towards themselves and be more forgiving when they make mistakes.
Let us take a look at how your children can get over their PSLE results by using the following coping mechanisms.
Creating a positive self-image
The way our children look at themselves is much more important than the way we look at them. Having a good self-perception can help your children evolve into strong and positive adults. They will grow up with the ability to handle failures more effectively and not take it up too deeply affecting their mental peace.
So, how can you help your children develop a positive self-image about themselves?
Shower your children with praise whenever they have done a job well. If they have failed in a particular task, make sure you encourage them with positive words for the efforts they have put in. It is important for you to help your children understand that efforts matter more than the end results. This will encourage your children to put their fullest effort in all tasks that they do and feel positive even though their efforts haven’t earned the right results.
Separating achievement from self-worth
The necessity to clearly distinguish between one’s accomplishments and self-worth has received a lot of attention in recent times. However, it has been difficult to follow through. We need to help our children understand that the grades they secure don’t determine their talent and future.
So, how exactly can we do this?
We need to encourage our children to enjoy the process of learning. Be it Maths, Science, English or any other subject, they need to have this understanding that they are learning to widen their knowledge and skill set. They are doing it to improve their self-worth and not to prove anything to anyone. Once children approach learning with such an open mind, they should be wise enough to separate achievement from self-worth.
Be a positive source of inspiration
Parents are the primary source of influence and inspiration for their children. Inspire your children through your positivity, and help them take cues of your positive vibes and apply them in their daily lives. Getting inspired through your actions is a continuous process. So, make sure you influence your children positively on a daily basis through your actions.
Moreover, give your kids the freedom to pursue their interests. But make sure your children make the most out of this freedom by having frequent checks. Have a casual chat with them every day after dinner. Understand how their day went and how well they are managing their daily tasks. Pay more attention to their time management skills, and offer them advice on how you plan your office work schedule well ahead and how you deal with uncertainties and disruptions.
At the end of the day, it is important for us to remind our kids that no test can change how amazing and special they are as individuals.
Tell your children that while a higher PSLE score may get them admission to a better secondary school, it definitely isn’t the end of the world. There are still many chances out there for them to seize and make the most out of.
All the best! 🙂
Exam Smart Tips
Exam Smart Tip #1 – How to Encourage Our Kids to Speak Better?
Exam Smart Tip #2 – How to avoid carelessness?
Exam Smart Tip #3 – Establishing Routines!
Exam Smart Tip #4 – Let’s Read Carefully!
Exam Smart Tip #5 – Beating the Exam Fever!
Exam Smart Tip #6 – How to Eat Right for the Exams?
Exam Smart Tip #7 – How to Avoid a Meltdown?
Exam Smart Tip #8 – Taking Stress out of Tests
Who We Are
Mission statement – “Empower every student to achieve full potential”
88tuition Pte Ltd offers the best PSLE Tuition Singapore for children looking to ace the PSLE exam. With effective learning materials and high-quality explanatory videos by experienced trainers, children are provided with the best online PSLE tuition.
With the basics learnt well, children will be able to grasp advanced concepts easily. Looking for the best PSLE math tuition, PSLE Science tuition and PSLE English tuition in Singapore? 88tuition has got you covered. The online training videos and assessments are designed in a way that children are made to enjoy the learning process.
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