Hi everyone, we are together again with a new issue. For those who have not come across my previous articles, I am Specialist Clinical Psychologist Özge Akar. I am working on Child and Adolescent Psychology. With the winter month, the second semester of education begins. This heralds that we are one step closer to the high school entrance and university entrance exams. As parents, we will talk about what we can do for children, what we can do about this topic, and how we can support them during this preparation period.

What do you think is the secret of a successful student? In fact, the biggest factor of success is studying. It is studying habits that bring success. Remember that even in dictionaries, “Study" comes before “Success”. You can start supporting your child by asking why they study during the exam preparation process. If they understand that studying is a service to the goal, this action becomes a means to the goal rather than a necessity for them. Setting goals is one of the most important initial steps of the study. You should set goals under the leadership of your children's ideas. Then you should create monthly, weekly and even daily goals as you get closer to the exam that will help you reach your long-term goals.

The goal should aim for the better, based on the current realities. It should be realistic but somewhat challenging. As families, after you set your goals with your children, the power that will motivate you is to really want that goal. In order to achieve this great goal, your children should know that they have to put off some of their wishes.

Another thing is to have willpower. You should explain the word willpower to your children and tell them what they can achieve with willpower. As parents, you should always remind your children that “If you leave the responsibility for your life to the outside world, you will always have many reasons that will hinder your work and success.” One who are raised with strong willpower reach success more easily by not being affected by external factors and by fully concentrating on their goal. Preparing a study program will provide a regular study environment for your children. However, this program should be prepared by your children, not you as parents. You should not forget that children are individuals and should make their own decisions with their own rationality. You just need to check the program and give information about the things you see missing. It should be 7 days. Time intervals and breaks should be written in the program.

Countdown for Preparations Has Started… First of all, you as families should know that exams are not everything in life. You should know this and you should impose on your children that an exam is not the end of the world. Make good use of your time to go to success; don’t forget, you will get the reward.