How To Prepare Well For Exams In Less Time

It is that time of the year when the only thing on children's mind is exams! Be it board exams or the annual exams; anxiety level arises not just in kids but parents too. One thing a child at this stage wishes is to do well and give his best shot. If you have been studying regularly throughout the year then there is nothing much to worry about. What is left for you is revisions and paper practice. But if you are one of those who study only when the exams are approaching then there is lot much to do and very less time. It is now that you make a plan and carry it out. Here are some tips on how you can do well in less time by making a plan and sticking to it throughout.

How To Prepare Well For Exams In Less Time

Choose Your Study Time

Choose one time of the day when you think you will be more comfortable studying. Select a time which suits you well - be it early morning, late night or even in the afternoon. The whole point of choosing this time is that you can be comfortable, attentive towards study and have fruitful results.

Review Your Lessons

It is important to review lessons that you study. What you can do while you are studying is whenever you come across any important point - jot it down or highlight it. If you come across important formulas for Math it is ideal to make charts for the same and stick them on the walls of your room. This way whenever you wish you go through them or memorize them by regularly viewing them.

Solve Question Papers

For students who appear for board exams the best way to achieve success is to solve many past question papers as possible. Solving question papers also helps you to identify questions which poses difficulty for you. Once you identify these questions, start a detailed study of them and practice. Also try and finish each papers in the assigned time.

Develop a Time Table

It would be ideal to develop a timetable that helps you to track down your study routine and monitor your progress. A well planned timetable helps you to pay equal attention to each and every subject. Try to include at least 3 to 4 subjects everyday plus some time for revision. With a well planned time table one gets to focus on each subjects at regular intervals.

Learn To Relax in Between

The concentration span of a human being is 45 minutes at a time. So one is allowed to take a break for 5 - 10 minutes after every 45 minutes. So when you make a timetable and consider studying 3 to 4 subjects in a single session, it would be advisable to spare 45 minutes for each subject and then take a break for few minutes to just freshen you up. You could relax your eyes or try some meditation or even splash water on your eyes for an instant lift in those breaks and rejuvenate yourself.

Eating Right

One needs good nutrition to set the balance right on energy, good thinking, clarity and good health. The food that you eat shapes your mind and body. Right breakfast improves better concentration and memory. For those who plan to study late in night or early in the morning, it is important to enjoy a power packed breakfast with portions of fresh fruit juices.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Before exam times or even during exams, it is important to get adequate rest. A child should get 7 - 8 hours of sleep. Sleeping relaxes you and takes away your anxiety. To start afresh, a child needs to have at least six hours of sleep. This sleeping time consolidates the brain of the child and the stored memory is refreshed. So plan a routine that does proper justice not just to your studying time but also your sleeping time. This prevents you from burning out. Not getting enough sleep may limit a child's ability to focus on problems and also lead them to aggressive behavior.

Enjoy Some Leisure Time

In between study routines enjoy enough leisure time which can help relax and rejuvenate you. Anything that you enjoy which does not involve studying can be opted for. For instance you could enjoy some music by listening to your favorite songs or even playing your favorite instrument. You could enjoy a session of swimming or go for a run or even a walk in the garden. This can take away your stress and refresh your mind.

Useful Tip to Study For Exams in One Night

If you are one of those kids who do not believe in studying throughout the year but right before the exam night, then you are in big trouble! So for kids like you the only thing to avoid any anxiety is not to go through the whole study material and revise all answers in one day. Because it is just not possible for an average student to revise the entire portion in a day. So my advice is to read the first primary source of content which are the textbooks made available to you. Read the textbook well and try to jot down important points. By doing this you can at least get most of the objectives right and secure satisfactory marks.

Ten Things You Should Do on Night Before Exams

1. Eat a light meal to prevent any lethargy the next morning. Try and eat homemade food.

2. Do not study throughout the night before the exam.

3. Get organized for the big day tomorrow. Keep everything that you need to carry with you handy.

4. Plan what would you wear the next day. Keep the clothes ready for the exam day on the previous night to avoid any anxiety.

5. Ensure you get enough sleep before exam day.

6. Set an alarm. Do not try to rush things in the morning. Allow the morning chores to be effortless by setting an alarm.

7. Before getting up practice meditation technique to keep anxiety at bay.

8. Eat a light breakfast. Avoid fried foods and coffee. Watch some television or listen to some music while enjoying breakfast.

9. Leave early for your exam center and reach before time. This would help you to settle your nerves and relax a bit before writing your paper.

10. Keep a positive mindset by assuring yourself that your performance is going to be better. 

The Runaway Poem By Robert Frost

The Runaway

              - By Robert Frost

Once when the snow of the year was beginning to fall,

We stopped by a mountain pasture to say, "Whose colt?"

A little Morgan had one forefoot on the wall,

The other curled at his breast.  He dipped his head

And snorted at us.  And then he had to bolt,

We heard the miniature thunder where he fled,

And we saw him, or thought we saw him, dim and gray,

Like a shadow against the curtain of falling flakes.

"I think the little fellow's afraid of the snow.

He isn't winter-broken.  It isn't play

With the little fellow at all.  He's running away.

I doubt if even his mother could tell him, 'Sakes,

It's only weather.'  He'd think she didn't know!

Where is his mother?  He can't be out alone."

And now he comes again with a  clatter of stone

And mounts the wall again with whited eyes

And all his tail that isn't hair up straight.

He shudders his coat as if to throw off flies.

"Whoever it is that leaves him out so late,

When other creatures have gone to stall and bin,

Ought to be told to come and take him in."

The Mountain Poem By Robert Frost

The Mountain

                   - By Robert Frost

The mountain held the town as in a shadow

I saw so much before I slept there once:

I noticed that I missed stars in the west,

Where its black body cut into the sky.

Near me it seemed: I felt it like a wall

Behind which I was sheltered from a wind.

And yet between the town and it I found,

When I walked forth at dawn to see new things,

Were fields, a river, and beyond, more fields.

The river at the time was fallen away,

And made a widespread brawl on cobble-stones;

But the signs showed what it had done in spring;

Good grass-land gullied out, and in the grass

Ridges of sand, and driftwood stripped of bark.

I crossed the river and swung round the mountain.

And there I met a man who moved so slow

With white-faced oxen in a heavy cart,

It seemed no hand to stop him altogether.

"What town is this?" I asked.

"This? Lunenburg."

Then I was wrong: the town of my sojourn,

Beyond the bridge, was not that of the mountain,

But only felt at night its shadowy presence.

"Where is your village? Very far from here?"

"There is no village—only scattered farms.

We were but sixty voters last election.

We can't in nature grow to many more:

That thing takes all the room!" He moved his goad.

The mountain stood there to be pointed at.

Pasture ran up the side a little way,

And then there was a wall of trees with trunks:

After that only tops of trees, and cliffs

Imperfectly concealed among the leaves.

A dry ravine emerged from under boughs

Into the pasture.

"That looks like a path.

Is that the way to reach the top from here?—

Not for this morning, but some other time:

I must be getting back to breakfast now."

"I don't advise your trying from this side.

There is no proper path, but those that have

Been up, I understand, have climbed from Ladd's.

That's five miles back. You can't mistake the place:

They logged it there last winter some way up.

I'd take you, but I'm bound the other way."

"You've never climbed it?"

"I've been on the sides

Deer-hunting and trout-fishing. There's a brook

That starts up on it somewhere—I've heard say

Right on the top, tip-top—a curious thing.

But what would interest you about the brook,

It's always cold in summer, warm in winter.

One of the great sights going is to see

It steam in winter like an ox's breath,

Until the bushes all along its banks

Are inch-deep with the frosty spines and bristles—

You know the kind. Then let the sun shine on it!"

"There ought to be a view around the world

From such a mountain—if it isn't wooded

Clear to the top." I saw through leafy screens

Great granite terraces in sun and shadow,

Shelves one could rest a knee on getting up—

With depths behind him sheer a hundred feet;

Or turn and sit on and look out and down,

With little ferns in crevices at his elbow.

"As to that I can't say. But there's the spring,

Right on the summit, almost like a fountain.

That ought to be worth seeing."

"If it's there.

You never saw it?"

"I guess there's no doubt

About its being there. I never saw it.

It may not be right on the very top:

It wouldn't have to be a long way down

To have some head of water from above,

And a good distance down might not be noticed

By anyone who'd come a long way up.

One time I asked a fellow climbing it

To look and tell me later how it was."

"What did he say?"

"He said there was a lake

Somewhere in Ireland on a mountain top."

"But a lake's different. What about the spring?"

"He never got up high enough to see.

That's why I don't advise your trying this side.

He tried this side. I've always meant to go

And look myself, but you know how it is:

It doesn't seem so much to climb a mountain

You've worked around the foot of all your life.

What would I do? Go in my overalls,

With a big stick, the same as when the cows

Haven't come down to the bars at milking time?

Or with a shotgun for a stray black bear?

'Twouldn't seem real to climb for climbing it."

"I shouldn't climb it if I didn't want to—

Not for the sake of climbing. What's its name?"

"We call it Hor: I don't know if that's right."

"Can one walk around it? Would it be too far?"

"You can drive round and keep in Lunenburg,

But it's as much as ever you can do,

The boundary lines keep in so close to it.

Hor is the township, and the township's Hor—

And a few houses sprinkled round the foot,

Like boulders broken off the upper cliff,

Rolled out a little farther than the rest."

"Warm in December, cold in June, you say?"

"I don't suppose the water's changed at all.

You and I know enough to know it's warm

Compared with cold, and cold compared with warm.

But all the fun's in how you say a thing."

"You've lived here all your life?"

"Ever since Hor

Was no bigger than a——" What, I did not hear.

He drew the oxen toward him with light touches

Of his slim goad on nose and offside flank,

Gave them their marching orders and was moving.

What is Motor Fitness

The ability of a person to perform successfully in any physical activity or sport is referred as motor fitness. Motor fitness is the skill related fitness with direct relevance to an individual's performance in games and sports.

Components of Motor Fitness

Speed

The ability to move one's body from one point to another as fast as possible is speed. Short distance sprints like 30 meters, 40 meters, 50 meters, 200 meters, etc. should be practiced more for speed. Speed is needed in games like soccer, baseball or even gymnastics.

Power

The application of speed and strength to produce a muscular movement is power. This skill of power is required almost in all sports. Once we use power to perform our task quickly and as forcefully as one can be, the result is powerful. For instance the power needed by a player to throw javelin or power needed by a player for a long jump or the power needed for a player for a shot put. One should practice more of exercises like vertical jumps, hurdle jumps or push-ups.

Agility

The ability to change the direction of one's body quickly and efficiently along with the speed of your travel is agility. For games like tennis, kho-kho, hockey and football agility plays an important role. One should practice more of exercises like zigzag running, kho-kho and shuttle run for developing good agility.

Co-ordination

The ability to use one's body parts and muscles to move smoothly and accurately is co-ordination.  It is an important skill that recruits senses such as sight and hearing in conjunction with body parts to perform tasks accurately along with efficient movement. One should practice more of skipping, catching objects, juggling etc. for improving co-ordination skills.

Balance

The ability to remain in equilibrium while moving or stationary is balance. Static balance and dynamic balance are components of balance. Exercises like standing on one leg, frog jump etc. helps in improving balance. Activities such as ballet, skiing, gymnastics, dance, ice hockey and other sports are totally dependent on balance for smooth functioning.

Reaction Time

The amount of time consumed by a sportsman to respond to a stimulus is reaction time. This component of motor fitness is important in most of the sports. It is all about responding to the situation and reacting to it. The reaction time plays an important role in an individual's performance. Some of the exercise that should be practiced more for successful reaction time includes running on different signals and positions.

Motor Fitness Test Exercises

The components of motor fitness can be determined by various motor fitness tests. Some of the exercises that determine motor fitness test are mentioned in the table below:

No	Components	Motor Fitness Test Exercises
1	Speed	-      Short sprints - 20m, 30m, 50m
		-      High knee, Buttock kick, both leg hop or one leg hop
2	Agility	-      Shuttle run, zigzag running, games like kho-kho
3	Power	-      Clap & pushups, Vertical jump, jumping small hurdles
4	Reaction Time	-      Run on different signals and position
5	Balance	-      Standing on one leg, Frog balance, stork stand
6	Co-ordination	-      Skipping, catching ball, Frisbee, ring etc.
		-      Football, Handball, Basketball, Volleyball

Good-Bye, And Keep Cold Poem By Robert Frost

Good-Bye, And Keep Cold

- By Robert Frost

This saying good-bye on the edge of the dark

  And cold to an orchard so young in the bark

  Reminds me of all that can happen to harm

  An orchard away at the end of the farm

  All winter, cut off by a hill from the house.

  I don't want it girdled by rabbit and mouse,

  I don't want it dreamily nibbled for browse

  By deer, and I don't want it budded by grouse.

  (If certain it wouldn't be idle to call

  I'd summon grouse, rabbit, and deer to the wall

  And warn them away with a stick for a gun.)

  I don't want it stirred by the heat of the sun.

  (We made it secure against being, I hope,

  By setting it out on a northerly slope.)

  No orchard's the worse for the wintriest storm;

  But one thing about it, it mustn't get warm.

  "How often already you've had to be told,

  Keep cold, young orchard. Good-bye and keep cold.

  Dread fifty above more than fifty below."

  I have to be gone for a season or so.

  My business awhile is with different trees,

  Less carefully nourished, less fruitful than these,

  And such as is done to their wood with an axe—

  Maples and birches and tamaracks.

  I wish I could promise to lie in the night

  And think of an orchard's arboreal plight

  When slowly (and nobody comes with a light)

  Its heart sinks lower under the sod.

  But something has to be left to God.

In A Vale Poem By Robert Frost

In A Vale

                    - by Robert Frost

When I was young, we dwelt in a vale

    By a misty fen that rang all night,

    And thus it was the maidens pale

    I knew so well, whose garments trail

    Across the reeds to a window light.

    The fen had every kind of bloom,

    And for every kind there was a face,

    And a voice that has sounded in my room

    Across the sill from the outer gloom.

    Each came singly unto her place,

    But all came every night with the mist;

    And often they brought so much to say

    Of things of moment to which, they wist,

    One so lonely was fain to list,

    That the stars were almost faded away

    Before the last went, heavy with dew,

    Back to the place from which she came—

    Where the bird was before it flew,

    Where the flower was before it grew,

    Where bird and flower were one and the same.

    And thus it is I know so well

    Why the flower has odor, the bird has song.

    You have only to ask me, and I can tell.

    No, not vainly there did I dwell,

    Nor vainly listen all the night long.

How to Help Your Overweight Child Lose Weight

A child being overweight or obese is one of the common causes of concern for parents these days. It starts all with a child being chubby in childhood which parent adore. Slowly and gradually the chubbiness starts turning into obesity which is initially ignored by parents. For them all that matters is that the child looks healthy. But before they realize that their healthy child is growing more towards the heavier side with huge bellies and double chins, it is quite too late. This realization dawns only after the child starts complaining about being tired, lethargic or even breathless with or without any physical activity. Ignoring the fact that a child may have weight issues is a mistake a parent usually does. It is only when the child starts to develop medical conditions due to their weight issues, the parent realizes that the child needs help. Parents run to doctors and friends with complains like, 'my daughter is overweight what can I do?' or 'My child is overweight but he eats healthy, so how?' or even questions like, 'Is my child overweight?' In the current scenario more and more kids are facing the issue of being overweight or obese.

One symptom of overweight children is  Belly fat 

Symptoms of Childhood Obesity

A child being overweight or obese could be kept under check, if a parent is aware of the symptoms of childhood obesity. How do you know whether your child is overweight or not, is all upon these symptoms. Just relate any or few of these symptoms with your child's condition and you have your answer. You could check just one box or more than one, it all tells you how overweight your child is! Once you know the symptoms of obesity your child relates to, you would be in a better position to explain the same to your doctor for further help and analysis. Here are few symptoms of childhood obesity -

1. Your child often complains of his clothes being too tight and demands for large sizes, even though they were bought recently.

2. You notice your child's belly fat and an increasing weight gain around his waist.

3. You can notice large deposits of fats or  stretchmarks around your child's chin, neck, hips, abdomen, thigh and arms.

4. Body Mass Index of the child confirms being overweight and obesity.

5. Your child complains constantly of being tired.

6. Your child has difficulty walking and running.

7. Your child is lethargic and always complain of being sleepy or drowsy.

8. Your child is fat as compared to the kids of his class.

9. Your child constantly complains of have trouble breathing while sleeping.

10. Your child constantly complains or faces gastric problems or even constipation.

11. In overweight girls delayed menstruation could be an symptom you cannot ignore.

12. In overweight boys delayed puberty is one of the symptoms.

13. Your child complains of difficulty breathing while doing any physical activity.

14. Your child complains of lower backaches, dislocated hip or flat feet.

15. Weighing scale confirms constant weight gain in your child.

How does a doctor determine your child's obesity?

When you check the obesity symptoms with your child and few of those symptoms relate to him or her, you could take up your child's condition with your doctor. A doctor can help you confirm whether your child has overweight issues. Normally a  doctor keeps tab of the regular checkup of a child right from infancy to his growing years which helps him observe the child carefully for weight issues. In such cases a doctor warns parents immediately if he finds anything wrong with the weight chart of a child. But any sudden symptoms that were not observed before and are happening recently should be checked with a doctor. A doctor would determine whether your child is overweight or obese by carrying out a thorough examination. He would check your child's Body Mass Index (BMI). The family history of child would also be taken in concern, for any problems such as obesity in parents, diabetes, sleep apnea, heart conditions, blood pressure problems etc.

Should a Parent Be Concerned about their child being overweight or obese?

The answer is yes. A parent should definitely be concerned about their child's weight issues. The reason is with a child being overweight, he or she is more threatened with serious health issues which may have long term effects. An overweight child may develop serious medical problems in initial or even later part of their life as compared to the other children. Imagine this, currently if your child has issues such as breathlessness or lethargy - what would happen when they grow? These problems would grow with them! Today's breathlessness may turn to asthma! Apart from medical problems a child will have to face severe effects of childhood obesity in their life.

And hence we as parent should help our child to fight obesity or overweight issues. What we do today is going to help them in the near future. The efforts would count and the child would be really thankful to his parents for the same.

Learn more about overweight child diet plans

How to Help Your Overweight Child Lose Weight

Include Healthy Food in Your Child's Diet

If your child has a habit of eating junk, it needs to stop right away. No more candies, chocolates, chips, cold drink and all those junk. But you can't just put a stop to whole thing immediately. Start putting a stop slowly. Other than three to four servings that your child has of his favorite junk food daily, limit it to two servings. Include healthy food rich in fiber, protein, vitamin, minerals in the next two servings. This way a child is happy and the mother is happy too. Plus try different overweight child diet plans and include whichever is suitable to your child. 

Listen To Your Doctor

Do not put your child on any weight loss program without consulting your doctor. You can actually consult your doctor for any weight-loss program which is essential for your child and only if he suggests, you should carry on such weight loss schedule. Get your child treated for any sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea or other health problems due to obesity.

Be a Good Role Model

Children are known to be good learners. And parents have to remember that! Your healthy choices towards life can help your child to make healthy choices for his life. If you live a passive life, your child would follow the same. And hence it is important that parents be a good role model for overweight children by making healthy choices such as eating healthy food, being physically active and enjoying active pastimes.

Limiting Your Child's Screen Time

Set a limited screen time for your overweight child. Be it use of mobile phones, computer, online games, PlayStation or just watching TV. Set a time limit for daily usage of all these electronic appliances. Like you could allow them one hour of television time and one hour of computer usage every day.  Children spend most of the time in their room playing games or watching television. This passive hours promote sedentary and lethargic lifestyle. Hence curtail the time limit for screen time usage for your child.

Planning a Regular Workout Routine For Your Overweight Child

Starting slow, promote a regular work-time for your overweight child. Make the plans by taking into consideration your child's likes and dislikes. If your child enjoys swimming then plan a 30 minute to 1 hour swimming session at least twice or thrice a week. Plan a walking schedule or a jogging schedule with your overweight child. Do not force him to work out for long hours. Start slow and allow him to adjust according to the schedule and then slowly increase  schedule from twice a day to thrice a day. You could alternatively put two or three activities schedules for the whole week. For instance swimming twice a week, active past time such as table tennis or football once or twice a week or even daily walks.

Discussing Obesity with Your Child

A sudden change in daily routine may amuse children. Children are unaware of how bad a problem of being overweight could be. Hence parents can help them understand in easy words. A child's age needs to be taken into consideration while making him understand and discuss obesity. It may be a bit easier to discuss the problem of obesity with elder kids rather than younger. But with simple words and little understanding a parent can easily discuss this problem with children. It is essential that a child realizes how important it is to stay healthy and how too much of junk food is ruining their health.

Appreciate Your Child's Efforts

Appreciate the efforts your child puts into it. If your overweight child participates in any school event such as a dance competition or even a sport activity, there are possibilities that he may not fare well in the beginning. But still he has tried. Even if he fails or does poorly in any physical activity or school activity, praise him for his efforts and motivate him to carry on. You can reward him for his efforts by cooking him his favorite sweet or any other gift.

Top Ten Tips To Help Your Child Lose Weight

1. Ensure that your child gets enough sleep daily. Lack of sleep is directly associated with weight gain according to some research studies.

2. Helping your child lose weight by starving him is not the right approach. Instead minimize his portions and include wholesome food in his daily diet.

3. Try to monitor your child's weight on a regular basis.

4. Encourage your child to participate in school activities such as sports, drama and dance.

5. Cut down on your child's daily dosage of aerated drinks and replace it with fresh fruit juices.

6. Teach your child to chew his food and eat slowly.

7. Once you limit your child's television hours, make sure that this rule applies to everybody in the household. This behavior motivates your child positively.

8. Encourage your child to carry out simple fun activity at home when he is alone. This could include playing with ball, shooting baskets, cycling, skipping.

9. Plan family active outings for weekend such as camping, hiking, bird watching, nature trails or a long walk.

10. Let your child know that you will always be there to support him. Your support will mean a lot to him and would inspire him to lose weight and be fit.