Right now many kids across the country are in the midst of starting or wrapping up exams for the last semester.  As moms trying to do what we’ve always done - help our kids with their studies - more than a few of us are finding it difficult.

One of the challenges of mentoring older children is helping them with a curriculum we know longer understand as well we might.  sure I took calculus in high school but that was 25 years ago and this English major has buried those memories, far, far away-lol!

Here are some tips to try to help your older teen get through exams:

• Try to help control the distractions that can disrupt study time.  As much as you want to watch CSI, try to go cold turkey these few weeks.  Even though your teen may be studying in her room or in another area of the house, sometimes a trip to the kitchen to get a refreshment will end up turning into a 30-minute break catching up on CSI with you.  Keep the house as quiet as you can.
• Prepare light and healthy dinners during exam week.  Less carbs and more veggies and protein will give your teens the energy they need for long study sessions.
• Monitor chat time on cell phones, MSN and Facebook.  Don’t start an argument but sometimes a gentle reminder that chat time is eating into study time is just what your teen needs.
• Remember when the kids were young tikes and you’d promise them some special treat upon completion of some task or chore?  Well even though we’re raising our teens to be self-motivated individuals, it won’t hurt to offer some treat upon the completion of their exams.  Just the knowledge of something special at the end of exams is enough to energize sleep deprived teen in the middle of exams.