Practice calming skills if your preteen suffers from test anxiety

In elementary school, your child may have worried about getting a poor grade on a test--if he worried about tests at all. But in middle school, kids begin to have the sense that test scores can affect their futures. And some freeze up whenever a big exam, such as a standardized test, is put in front of them.

Help your child reduce test anxiety by reminding him to:

Be prepared. He can ask his teacher for tips on what to study. Then he can study for 15 or 20 minutes a day--more if the test is coming up soon--as far in advance as possible.
Talk to the teacher. If your child is especially nervous, he should share his concerns with the teacher. She may be able to talk to him about the test format and reassure him that he is, indeed, well-prepared.
Practice calming techniques. He can try deep breathing to take himself mentally to a relaxing place, counting backward from 100--anything that works for him. He can use these techniques before he studies and right before he takes a test.

The idea of standardized testing may make you jittery, too. But try not to pass that on to your child. Say something like, "You're prepared and I believe you will do your best. I'm proud of you."

Wellness

Your middle schooler's weight may be linked to school success

Researchers say students who are significantly overweight may not perform as well in school. A study in the medical journal Obesity found that over-weight middle school students:

Had lower reading scores on standardized tests.
Were more likely to have at least six detentions.
Missed more school.
Had lower scores on physical fitness tests.
Were less likely to play on sports teams.

One author of the study said that the overweight students may have suffered from low self-esteem. They were unhappy and had poor self-images. As a result, they may have been less likely to come regularly to school. Children with low self-esteem are also less likely to try to get along with their peers and teachers.

You can help your child maintain a healthy weight if you:

Serve fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.
Buy fewer (or no) snacks containing high amounts of sugar, fat and salt.
Encourage drinking of water rather than soda.
Limit meals at fast-food restaurants. These tend to be high in calories, fat and salt.
Encourage regular exercise. Middle school students should get about an hour of exercise daily. This can be in the form of 20 minutes, three times a day.

Speak to your child's doctor if you need more information about ways to encourage a healthy diet and activity level.

Reprinted with permission from the February 2009 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter