- Deirdre Brandner
VCE Studying: Do's and Don't for Parents
VCE/HSC is a stressful time, not only for the child completing their final exams but also for their parents. As parents we all want our child to do well and we want to support them through this time in the best way we can. Here are some helpful tips I provide to my clients' parents and unhelpful things to avoid.

The Do's
Do ask them what you can do to help. They probably won’t know but asking will make them and you feel better
Do encourage them to make sure they are getting a balance of study, sleep and downtime
Do let them set their own study timetable. Only they can do the revising and only they know what needs to be done
Do understand that their anxiety will make them irritable and emotional at times
Do be prepared for tears and moments of stress: acknowledge that this a difficult time but remind them this is just one moment in the educational journey
Do help them with suggestions of Smiling Minds or Calm apps
Do organise to get to and from exams if this is required
The Don'ts
Do not allow your anxiety about your child’s exams become contagious
Do not nag
Do not change household routines
Do not hover
Do not keep talking about exams and asking questions about how they think they are doing