Supporting my son during exam period

[VioletValentine]

Does anyone have any nice ideas on ways to cosset my ds a little bit through GCSEs? I've already planned nutritious meals, helping to organise his bag/pencil case beforehand etc. Just looking for suggestions to minimise stress and keep him comfortable throughout. Thanks!

Depending on what he's like, perhaps not helicoptering? I'd have hated my parents being all concerned and 'helpful' while I was doing exams. You can ensure he's got exam kit without manually organising it - teenagers will often take it as condescension and/or you assuming he's incompetent - tread carefully!.

Meals and quiet time for him to get things in his head. Encouragement to go out and do something else if he's too buried in revision. But don't keep popping in with cups of tea (or whatever), he'll feel monitored and stress.

"Nutritious meals" should perhaps be aided and abetted by "grossly indulgent snacks" if he's into that.

Well the healthy food is a nice idea, but honestly he will love a hot choc and biscuits more. Back off and follow his lead, be there if needed but do not be too over bearing. Plan a treat for when they are over. A bar of chocolate left on his desk, a favourite meal, it’s the little things.

When I was revising for school exams, many decades ago, my dad would sometimes bring me a homemade sundae style thing with ice cream, chocolate, sprinkles etc. He put such a lot of thought into it and it wasn't the sort of indulgent thing we'd normally eat. Meant a lot to me. Still remember it 40 years later!

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not a natural helicopter, but he's been pretty unwell recently so I'm amping up the nurture factor to help him through the exams unscathed.

Chocolate it is!

I used to make cooked breakfasts for all exam days. Not always full english, often bacon sarnies, scrambled egg on toast, juices, fruit etc. A nice selection and I made an effort. Meant I also knew when actual exam days were.

Both did BTEC level 3 and missed "exam breakfasts" when they had their finals as they were all coursework!

I didnt helicopter them in any other way but If they had been a disorganised type I might have "watched" for pens pencils etc