Does your teenager get anxious on big tests, like the SAT and ACT?
Do they do OK in the classroom, OK in practice, and then fall flat come test day?
And if they take the big test again, does the cycle repeat?
Your teenager can turn this challenge into an opportunity for success – not just on the SAT, but for life!
Here’s the big thing:
I’ll repeat: Give them your confidence – not your worry!
How can you possibly expect them to handle their test anxiety if what they’re feeling from you is worry?
Teenagers may not always listen to us parents. But they do learn from us – all the time!
And they learn more from the way we are than from what we say.
So, if we want them to have confidence, let’s show confidence ourselves – they’ll draw it from us.
And one way to do that is to approach this SAT/ACT thing as a game right along with them.
It’s not life or death! Let’s let them know that when we follow Coach Wooden’s advice and practice like champions, we become champions and it shows up sooner or later in our performance.
So give your teenager the space to master their game and let go of their test anxiety.
In the 5th part of this article, I’ll talk with you about Meghan, a former student of ours who initially struggled with test anxiety and emerged victorious by learning how to handle pressure!
