Supporting Your Child Through Results Day

Mental health has never been more prevalent in today’s society than it is now, thanks to the growth in conversation around the issue and the lessening stigma more and more parents are looking to support their child’s mental health. 

There’s no doubt that this school year has been another unlike any other, changes to exams, lockdowns and lack of time in school has meant many students will have been worried in the run-up to exam week and with results week finally here many parents will be looking to support their child as best as they can should the results not go as their child had hoped. 

No matter the result, getting through a year like this should be a huge achievement for any student, but should they feel disappointed we’ve identified some top tips for you to better support your child.

1. Make a backup plan!

Whilst your child will be hoping for the best on Results Day you can't always guarantee things will go to plan. Having a plan to fall back on will help your child feel more at ease and better prepared now they have multiple options. You may also want to encourage your child to gather all of the things they will need once they get their results. For example, any account passwords or University hotline numbers.

2. Stay calm!

If your child doesn’t get the results they need they may be upset and become stressed. As a parent, you may also be feeling upset on their behalf, however, the best way to de-escalate the disappointment is to remain calm. If you start to panic or become worried, your child will be more likely to replicate the same emotions if they see you panic which will make the situation a lot harder to control.

3. Don’t rush them!

Although it's important to act quickly when exploring your child’s next step, try not to rush them as they may make a decision they could end up regretting later on. Make sure they digest all the information and assess the different options before they decide what they want to do next.

4. Look for positives

Make sure to reassure your child that they have done well in a year with conditions that many students will not have experienced and that there are still have many options open to them. If they didn’t get the grades for their first choice, they may feel there is no other route. By reassuring them of these other routes they are less likely to freak out and start to think more positively.

5. Talk about how they're feeling

Although they may not want to talk, one of the best ways to help prevent mental health problems is to discuss how your child is feeling, discussing why they’re feeling upset or stressed is the best way to find opportunities to support them. 

Our FREE online young people's mental health course has been popular with parents whose children are moving to the next stage in their lives and may be feeling worried. The course will give you an essential understanding of mental health and how you can develop resilience in your child, as well as to grow their self-esteem (and only takes 6 weeks to complete).

To learn more, visit https://theaimgroup.co.uk/courses/details/children-and-young-peoples-mental-health