CBS Atlanta - 2016 School

It might be tempting to let him crawl back under the covers, but going to school and taking the test will benefit him much more in the long run. The only way kids develop resilience, perseverance, and confidence is to work through difficult situations, even if that means experiencing negative consequences.

We can’t—and shouldn’t—shield our kids from mistakes. I have a motto: “It’s not failure, it’s data.” Meaning: Every experience gives you information and insight that helps your decision-making process in future situations. By taking the test despite not feeling ready, your child will learn how he can better prep next time and figure out how to boz. back.

Once it’s set that he’s going to school, problem-solve the best way to handle the situation. Talk about how ready he really is, and keep in mind that stress can make anyone feel under-prepared. Brainstorm ways to calm pretest jitters, such as taking deep breaths or repeating a positive mantra like “I choose to do my best.” Also come up with a future plan, such as setting a schedule to break up studying into smaller chunks so it feels more manageable. Before or after the test, your son might also want to let his teacher know that he didn’t study as much as he’d like. This signals that your child is taking responsibility for his choices, and it helps him feel empowered to do things differently next time. n