PSLE can be a stressful time not only for children but for the whole family. Research has found that P6 students pick up a tremendous amount of PSLE stress from their peers and their school environment, even when their parents are not putting excessive pressure on them to succeed. So even if you’ve been a laid-back parent, odds are your child is feeling the heat right now.
What’s a parent to do? How to check in with your child when they may not be willing to verbalise the stress they’re feeling? How to maintain a sense of childhood, balance, and ease in an extremely demanding season? And how do we, as parents, keep our own hopes and anxieties in check?
Supporting your child’s wellbeing during PSLE doesn’t require a perfect plan or quiet home. What matters most is how we show up, moment by moment, in ways that feel safe and loving.
Here are six simple ways to support your child’s well-being through this season.
1. Take Care of Yourself First
Easier said than done – we know! But your own emotional wellbeing is essential for your child’s. Children feel safe and stable when the adults around them are calm and in control. Yet local psychologists have noted that for many of us parents, PSLE is a mental health trigger, as we may have our own stressful childhood memories associated with the exam.
If you’re feeling anxious, irritable, or stretched too thin, you’re not alone – and the way you react goes a lot farther than you realise in modelling your values for your child.
When you make time for yoga, a relaxing bedtime routine, or a fun family outing, you’re not only letting yourself relax. You’re role-modelling to your child that it is important to take care of oneself in the midst of something challenging. You’re also showing your child that your personal happiness and good mood don’t depend on their exam results – that whatever happens, truly, they will be okay.
2. Everyday Check-ins That Meet Your Child Where They Are
Small moments of connection can go a long way, especially during stressful periods like PSLE. Your calm, steady presence helps your child feel safe, supported, and not alone – even when they may not have the words to express how they feel or show it outwardly.
When Your Child Comes Home from School
After a full day in school, your child might come home feeling tired, irritable, overstimulated or withdrawn. It can be tempting to ask “How was school?” or “What happened?” but broad questions like these may feel overwhelming and difficult to answer.
Instead, offer calm, present-focused invitations to connect:
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“I’m here if you want to talk about your day.”
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“You look tired. Would you like a little head, hand or shoulder massage?”
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“I made you some milo. Come sit with me if you’d like.”
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“You don’t have to talk. I’m just nearby if you need company.”
These small gestures offer comfort without pressure. Pairing words with a simple, comforting touch – such as placing a hand on your child’s shoulder, back, or hand – can help deepen connection and convey care without needing many words. Often, just being there is enough to help your child settle.
3. Encourage Regular Rest and Good Sleep
Rest is essential for learning, memory and emotional regulation. A well-rested mind copes better with stress and retains information more effectively. Encouraging your child to get enough sleep each night is vital, and sleep should not be sacrificed for PSLE (or any other exam).
Try to maintain a consistent bedtime routine to help your child wind down. This might include:
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Turning off screens at least an hour before bed
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Reading a quiet book together or listening to calming music
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Gentle stretching or slow, deep breathing to relax the body
Avoid pushing extra late-night study sessions that cut into sleep. Even if it feels tempting to squeeze in extra revision, a tired mind will be less focused and more prone to stress.
And if your child is the one who wants to study late into the night – remind them that rest is part of learning. Breaks and sleep help consolidate memory, regulate emotions, and reduce stress.
Prioritising rest and health is one of the practical ways that parents can convey to the child that there’s more to life than exam results – and that Mum and Dad want them to be healthy above all.
4. Do Short, Fun Physical Activities for Stress Relief
Physical movement can ease tension and boost mood. You don’t need complicated setups – quick and enjoyable activities work well.
Simple Ideas to Try
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Have a dance session in the living room to your child’s favourite songs.
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Do a few jumping jacks or stretches during study breaks.
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Try simple yoga poses like the child’s pose or downward dog.
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Take a short walk or scoot around the neighbourhood for a change of scene.
Breathing Techniques
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Micro-routines: Breathe in slowly for four counts, hold for two, then breathe out for six.
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Breath with movement: Inhale while raising arms overhead, exhale while lowering them.
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Balloon breathing: Pretend to blow up a balloon by exhaling gently for a longer count.
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Counting breaths: Quietly count the length of each breath during a short break.
These moments of movement can help your child release stress and reconnect with the bigger picture – that there’s a whole world beyond revision that’s there for them to enjoy.
5. Create a Manageable Daily Schedule with Simple, Predictable Routines
A clear, realistic daily schedule helps your child feel organised and less overwhelmed during PSLE. When your child knows what to expect, it creates a sense of calm and focus, even in a busy or noisy home.
It’s important to work out the routine together with your child rather than imposing it. When children help create their schedule, they feel a sense of ownership and control, which builds their confidence and motivation.
Easy Ways to Build Routines
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Time-based routines: Set regular time blocks, e.g., “5 to 6 pm homework, 6 to 7 pm dinner and rest.”
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Task-based routines: Break study sessions into smaller parts, e.g., “first maths, then reading, followed by a quick stretch.”
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Calming transitions: Encourage a short pause before starting or switching tasks.
At the same time, flexibility is key. Remember, the goal is not to create a rigid schedule but a helpful guide that your child can rely on.
6. Make Space for Emotions Without Needing to Fix Them
During the PSLE season, emotions can run high – for both children and parents. Your child might feel anxious, frustrated, bored, irritable, or just unusually quiet. Some of this stress is normal and even helpful. But when stress becomes constant or overwhelming, it can affect sleep, mood, and their ability to cope.
As a parent, you don’t have to know exactly what to say. You don’t need to explain feelings or turn every meltdown into a teachable moment. What helps most is simply staying present and open – without rushing your child to “cheer up” or “calm down”. Sometimes, silence and presence are enough.
Simple Acts of Support
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Sit beside your child while they draw, read, or listen to music.
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Spend a few quiet minutes together before bedtime.
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Take a short walk or stretch quietly.
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Share a calm snack or warm drink together.
The focus is on connection through presence rather than action or guidance. These small acts of presence help regulate the nervous system – not through words, but through connection and safety.
Remember: Your job isn’t to erase your child’s stress. You are simply giving your child a safe place to feel and regulate their emotions. That’s what builds emotional resilience and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Supporting your child during PSLE is not about perfect schedules, extra practice papers, or eliminating stress entirely. It is about being present, creating small predictable routines, and helping children navigate both manageable and overwhelming stress with care and connection.
Every check-in, moment of calm, short movement break, or quiet presence contributes to their emotional resilience, focus, and wellbeing. By combining practical strategies with compassionate attention, parents can help their children approach PSLE feeling seen, supported, and capable.
EveryChild.SG is calling for PSLE to be made optional. Sign our pledge to support child wellbeing, and tell us about your family’s PSLE experience here:
www.everychild.sg/pledge
