What can I do to help with A Levels

[Rezolution123]

Our DDs are both sitting A Level exams this year. What can we do to help them, support them and keep them focused?
Are there any pitfalls I should look out for?

[LittlehumHams]

There isn't a great deal you can do other than advise a good diet, plenty of sleep, regular work ethic and brain breaks. Some treats lined up can help - day out, friends over and so on.

Other than that perhaps ask them whether there is a particular weak spot in the school and ask how they could solve it eg moving classes, finding online help or real life help.

A good filing system helps for their work.

What A Levels are they doing?

[MatthewWrightIsThick]

Don't nag them, be sympathetic and be extra nice to them. If mine worked hard I let them off some of their chores.

I also watched out for stress. Even if they say they are not stressed and they appear not to be stressed doesn't mean that they aren't stressed.

If you are stressed try not to let them know.

Don't say inane things like 'don't worry it will be fine', even if it's true they might not be thinking it. A'levels can feel like the most IMPORTANT thing in the whole world to some kids so it's not helpful to be dismissive of them or to say things like how much easier they are these days etc.

[titchy]

Lots of tea! No nagging about peripheral stuff like keeping room tidy, temporary reprieve of chores. Being around to taxi into school in case bus breaks down on exam day. Be calm.

[Rezolution123]

Littlehum Thanks for that. One DD is doing Eng Lang Eng Lit and Classics; the other one is doing Biology, chemistry and RS. I try not to nag and keep things running smoothly. They are both good workers and very level-headed but I feel the next few weeks are going to be crucial and don't want anything at home to ruin their chances. I keep going out for fresh food and cooking individual meals each day.

[Rezolution123]

Thanks matthew and titchy. Am not nagging, just looking forward to tidying up when the last exam is over. Have booked a holiday so they have something to look forward to. I am trying to stay calm and appear confident.

[Ohtobeskiing]

I cook favourite meals and make sure we sit down together to eat. Dd and I also go out for a walk every evening during exam season - a bit of exercise, fresh air and chat about something other than exams helps her switch off and sleep.

[Rezolution123]

Yes Ohtobeskiing one daughter will come with me to walk the dog occasionally but the other prefers to be on her i-phone in her room catching up with all the gossip.
They will start study leave next week and I just think that will be awkward because they will miss the social contact in school (but not the commute to school)
I think we will have to go out for a meal occasionally as we all get bored with my basic menus.

[LisaMumsnet]

Rezolution123 you sound like SUCH a lovely Mum! My own Mum used to take us swimming when we were revising - we would swim a few lengths, revise for 30 minutes, then get back in the pool. I also think it's very helpful to have a revision timetable with specified breaks and rewards - makes it all a bit more manageable. They simply can't revise for 8 hours solid, so introducing snack/exercise/TV/phone breaks is essential and not a luxury. Exercise is the best stress-buster there is so suggest some trips to the high street to buy something to help get both of them out of the house.

[Rezolution123]

Thanks Lisamumsnet you sound nice today.
Yes, I agree about not being able to revise every hour of the day. I just need to make sure they don't drift into a mindless whirl of junk food, energy drinks and rubbish on TV. Fortunately I work from home so can keep an eye iyswim.

[kitkat1968]

A parent needs to be a pressure release valve, not another source of stress

[Leeds2]

When my DD was doing GCSEs, during study leave we probably went out for lunch at least twice a week, sometimes more. I felt that it got decent food inside her, got her out of the house and forced her to switch off from study for an hour.

Agree exercise is good, but DD - A2s this year - does do a lot of that by herself.

[Needmoresleep]

Do join us on the Yr 13 thread in Secondary education.

I dont think there is a lot you can do except reassure them and support them (with cake, ice cream or whatever.) I can't wait tilll the bedroom gets tidied but am reconcilled to this being after the exams. DDs study leave, which starts at half term, is relatively late. DD has quite an achieveable offer but a few of her friends are under a lot of pressure to get high grades, which is not helping. If her friends are stressed, parents need to step in to provide calm.

I agree with Lisa MN that exercise helps. Perhaps agree that after a set number of hours of revision, you go out for lunch at somewhere which is a bit of a walk, or something similar. And a couple of nights before the first exam when she coud not sleep we just watched an old episode of her favourite programme on the iPad till she felt sleepy.