Stress Management Tips Ahead of TCAP Testing, Prom and Graduation

Each year, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital sees an increased need for mental health support throughout spring during Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) testing, prom season and graduation. Here are a few tips for parents to help their child manage these stressors:

Testing

• Ensure your child is getting 8+ hours of sleep and eating a nutritious breakfast before testing.
• Wean down screen time before and during testing.
• Encourage your child to discuss the test and their feelings with you.
  • Let your child bring this up naturally and don’t probe them for answers.
  • Remind them it’s ok to be nervous and talk them through different scenarios to ease their mind. (Ex: What if the thing you are worried about does happen? What will you do? Will it be as bad as you think it will be?)
• Reassure your child their self-worth is not tied to their success on this test.
  • Create a worry box with your child and have them write their worries down and put it in the box.

Prom and graduation

• Manage prom expectations by discussing things like rejection and peer pressure.
  • Reassure and validate their feelings but offer other options like attending prom with friends instead of a date and to be present instead of comparing yourself to others on social media.
  • Talk openly about the possible pressure to drink or engage in other activities by being comfortable saying no and feeling empowered to walk away from a situation.
• Although graduation is exciting, it also comes with a lot of changes.
  • Discuss the transition with your child, including how to create a structure when they begin classes to help form a routine and ease anxiety being away from home.
  • Acknowledge that friendships may change but remind them they will also meet new people and will create more meaningful connections.

Children’s Hospital recommends that you contact your child’s pediatrician if you are concerned.

For information about finding a pediatrician for your child, visit our Primary Care page.