In grade 3, nine-year-old Charlotte was being tested in math, science and health pretty regularly. But her mom, Ania Farmer, didn?t need a schedule to know when a quiz was on the horizon?she could tell by her daughter?s behaviour. ?When she has a test coming up, she gets clingy and whiny, and has huge emotional outbursts. She starts to act much more child-ish,? says the mother of three.
Charlotte has learning disabilities and is anxious about school in general. But tests heighten her worry. ?A test is where you show what you know, and it just points out to her that she struggles,? says Farmer.
A little bit of nervousness about tests is normal and nothing to worry about, says Melanie Badali, a psychologist and board member of the non-profit organization Anxiety BC. But the worry becomes a problem when it causes distress and starts getting in the way of test performance or leads to avoidance. Physical issues often indicate emotional distress?like if your kid complains of a tummy ache or a headache before a test. They might also refuse to go to school or start saying things like, ?I?m dumb,? or ?I?m going to fail the test.? Your child (or their teacher) might mention that during tests they get shaky hands, feel dizzy or hot, or can?t stop fidgeting.
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