GCSE revision breaks and treats ideas wanted

[FeedtheTree]

Hi
DS is starting to get stressed about GCSEs. He's been told by his teachers he;ll need to work extremely hard to get the grades he wants and is capable of. By nature, he's very chilled. Not driven at all.

So I want to encourage him to put in the effort and then make sure he doesn't feel overwhelmed by planning a few treats and surprises. But nothing too major or time consuming. And I want to avoid shed loads of sugar.

I've thought of cinema trips, home film nights and the occasional trip to the theatre, which he likes. But now I've drawn a blank. He's not at all sporty, but a few things that involve a bit of physical exercise would be good. He loves magic tricks and plays rock guitar. Any ideas?

If he's stressed make sure he has created a revision guide, breaking down into manageable chunks so he can tick off as he goes.

I wouldn't arrange too many trips, I would let him chill as much as possible between revision sessions and encourage him to attend revision at school as I think that it is easier to be motivated there rather than at home.

My son is avid mountain biker so that's his R&R and really helps with the stress.

I'd be more thinking of physical activity to get rid of stress hormones. And planning is the key thing. Help him plan his revision. Work out a long timetable and help him revise it regularly (so missed sessions etc don't cause it to go off piste).
Also lots of: paper, post it notes, pens, coloured pens, blue tac, little cards etc. And encourage him to revise in a variety of ways: quiz cards, mind maps, key words stuck around his room, receiting quotes/formulae out loud, past papers - and find what works for him.

This are great ideas for helping them. My ds is also doing GCSE but is very laid back and I think needs a bit of help with the planning side of things.

These are great ideas.

I'll definitely help with the revision timetable and stock up on materials.

He will be going to school revision cvlasses. He's a bit grumpy about how many he's been asked to attend, but they'll be more productive than being at home.

Mountain biking is a good idea. He has a trail bike and enjoys cycling. I'll add that to the list.

My DS is stressing about being off ill this week - he's got a rotten cold, chills, fever, not sleeping, but we agreed staying home and recovering is better than struggling through feeling ill and not learning anything. He will catch up, he's doing ok but he's pretty hard on himself. He feels bit better today and hopefully will go in tomorrow.

Poor thing. I feel for them Kbear when they start to feel that every minute of every lesson counts. Which it does, but their health is more important, as you say. DS also off sick today.

Do you have a trampoline park nearby? Could maybe take him and a friend.
Indoor rock climbing.
Go for a swim.
I think all of the above, at least where I am, you don't need to book in advance so can turn up when there is a suitable break.
When my DD was doing GCSEs, and was on study leave, we used to go for. lunch at our local garden centre two to three times a week, as I felt it got her out of the house, and was a (brief) change of scenery. DD also found it useful to sometimes go and study at the local library, just to get out of the house and "change it up" a bit.
If you have a dog, get him to walk it!

Good ideas. Yes, we have a trampoline park. He'd like that.

If funds stretch to it could you hire a cottage for one of the school holidays before the exam for a revision camp. 2 hour revision then a break (walk on the beach etc) as it can be good to have a change of scene.

Years ago I read on here that planning something to do after exams can help with stress, so it is something to focus on when it seems like exams will never end.

Jellybean - yes, a change of scene would be good.
JustRich - we have holidays booked, but I'll look out for a special treat. I thought Reading Festival would be good, but although his friends are going, he's very particular in his music tastes and doesn't fancy it because his favourite bands aren't playing.

Is he in a band? Can he perform live? Find out what the local Open Mic events are. Any local organisations that put on gigs for teens to give them experience? Find local gigs to attend - doesn't have to be big names.

DC1 plays bass and loved having gigs during exam season as it was a total break from study.

I'm in a quandry about this too. DD dances competitively and LOVES it, it's her only solace (fairly academic but hates her very under-performing school, very few friends, counting the days until she can transfer to another school for Sixth Form).
She trains 1.5 hours Monday night, 1.5 hours Tuesday night, and 5 hours Saturday, with competitions every other Sunday, but sometimes three a month. Comps are 6am starts, home by 8-9pm.
I am trying to decide whether to cut out all comps in May/June or just let her do the odd one or two...don'y know if she will need that release of a day off doing something different or if it is a bad idea?
DD will not get study leave due to bad behaviour in her year group (not her, she's a geek), but generally they won't trust students to take study leave so they are required in school throughout the duration of exams.

Jufus let her do a couple so she has a release.

Gcse results are more important to a school than they are to an individual child. Chill out, support them where necessary but don't over state the importance. I cringe whenever SLT tell students their life will be over if they don't get their target grades. Their lives will be just fine!

Escape room?

Oh god should they be revising now? DS is having a break after mocks .

One year when we had several doing public exams we hired a large boat in France for ten days over Easter. We sailed during day whilst they revised (not much else to do) and then had nice meals out, coffee stops etc.

Out son who lacked a degree of focus was supported by being sent to private revision support courses in Oxford for A levels. He got either small group or 121 intensive revision and teaching from an Oxford tutor. He went between Christmas and New Year and over Easter. His day was 8-18 every day with a 45 minute break for lunch. We could book additional evening tuition but that seemed a bit excessive. He moaned about going but quite enjoyed it and it certainly improved his grades.

Several of them also used a Skype tutor or real tutor to provide structure and regularity to their revision. They did a few hours a week working with a tutor over Skype on 121 basis in a couple of subjects each. Alpha tutors, I think it was called. It helped with subjects they were avoiding focussing on.

Flex, DS isn't revising yet, post mocks. But he'll start again in half term.
Chewbecca - an escape room is a brilliant idea. Hadn't thought of that.

Bringon, he is in a band. They do one gig a term, usually. I was going to let him keep going until Easter then stop, then pick up again after exams. I know he loves it but it takes up most of every Saturday while he practises, and the occasional week night too. (Not often, as they're all at different schools with different timetables)

Let. Him. Stay in the band, a social life is worth more than any gcse!!

Dermymc I agree it's more important long term to be socially happy than academically successful. You're right. But he has some SEN that mean he finds it very hard to retain info so he has to keep doing practise papers so that the method goes into his long term memory, because his short term memory is very unreliable. Also, he has one chance at GCSEs and loads of chances at social life. So this is the balance. He'll only be giving it up for seven weeks of his life.

Keep the band! They need a break.
Are the other band members the same age or different? DC1's band is currently upset because one is doing exams this year so parents vetoed an invitation to play at a v high profile local event during May/June 1/2 term.

Jufusmum I wouldn't cut out the dancing but perhaps cut back on the comps a little in May/June. If it is very much part of her life she will be used to fitting stuff in around dance and the dance itself is a very good break. There was a fitness program on TV recently that claimed your brain function after dance was really good!