Help children overcome FEAR OF FAILURE

My daughter is not a high academic achiever. She will be writing her class X board exams next year. How can I help her overcome fear of failure?

- AYUSHI SRIVASTAVA

You need to acknowledge that academics is highly competitive today. Even if she is not showing overt signs, your daughter is feeling the pressure of performing well in the board exam. Constantly talking about exams won’t help, nor will avoiding the issue. You need to adopt a balanced middle path. Encouraage her to open up and discuss her academic fears and anxietiies. Help her prepare a plan of action, based on study needs, resources available, and problems that need to be solved.

Fear of failure increases when there are no study timetables and routines. Therefore, help her prepare a plan of action which, apart from school notes, includes additional study guides, internet tutorials/offline tuitions, mentoring from parents/friends, etc.

— Raghavi Bagade, Mumbai