• Get many good nights of sleep leading up to the actual tests. A well-rested child is a much more relaxed child.
• Limit TV watching and video game playing. Both have been shown to increase anxiety levels in young kids.
• Offer a well balanced breakfast the mornings of testing. Juice, yogurt, fruit, toast and eggs all offer a better start to their day and will stay in their tummies longer than a Pop Tart or sugared cereal.
• Dress comfortably – nothing tight or constricting or too warm.
• Wake up about 20 minutes earlier on test days. This ensures there is none of that last minute running around we all do every morning.
• Finally, look your child in the eyes and tell them the two most important things: 1. It does not matter to me how you score as long as you do your best. 2. I love you. (STRESS that one several times.)

1. It does not matter to me how you score as long as you do your best.

2. I love you. (STRESS that one several times.)