Every year, students all across the United States are sat down, handed pencils, and told that it's time for their yearly state testing. Most of the time they are given a couple of weeks warning before the testing, but there is still a big deal made about these tests. Kids get nervous when the adults around them make a big deal out of something like this. What can you, as a parent, do to help ease your child's anxiety over the state testing? In this article, you will find several useful tips to help you prepare your child for their state testing.

Get Some Rest - Of course we all know that children need their sleep, but did you know that most children don't get their required hours of sleep every night? During your child's state testing, it is so important that they get at least the recommended hours of sleep, nightly. No one wants their child so tired that they do poorly during the tests that matter most in their educational life. So even if it's a battle, get those kids to bed on time or, better yet, early.

Eat Breakfast - You've heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, it's true. So make sure that you child isn't so rushed off to school that they don't have time for a good, nutritious breakfast beforehand. Just remember how bad you feel in the mornings when you're trying to get your work done, but your stomach is growling so loudly that it's a wonder your dog does growl right back. Feed those young bellies before the young minds need to think clearly at test time.

Speak Positive - All children will pick up on their parents feelings on any given subject, and that includes their state testing. So when you discuss this part of their schooling with them, always speak positive about it. Let them know that they will do great and you'll be proud of them no matter what. Make sure that they know to do their best and that's all you ask of them. And secretly remember that if your child does do poorly, the majority of schools have built-in test make-up days after the initial county-wide testing is over. So it's not hopeless if your child needs more chances to get a good grade.

Do That Homework - When your child's school starts preparing the students for their upcoming state tests, many teachers will send home practice worksheets, extra homework, and possibly even access codes for online practice tests. Make sure that your child understands that this homework is just as important (and possibly more so) as their regular homework and that it should be done with just as much diligence as the homework they do during the rest of the school year. So, as a parent, it is our responsibility to make sure that our children are doing this extra homework each night.

Don't Skip School - Lastly, make sure that your child is at school, on time, and ready for action every day that the state tests are being administered. Attendance is mandatory. If your child has a dentist appointment scheduled, move it to late in the afternoon or to a completely different day. Don't pick your child up early. And if they wake up not feeling well, make sure that they are really ill before letting them skip school that day. Testing is usually split up over several days so that the children don't get overwhelmed, so make sure that your child understands that there will not be any random skipping of school during those days. If something drastic does happen and there's nothing you can do to prevent a missed day, make sure that you find out exactly what days will be scheduled for make-up tests.

In the end, try to calm your child's anxieties about the state testing, but also insure that they understand these tests are important to their educational advancement. Be supportive, be helpful, listen to their concerns, and let them know that you are there for them no matter what their scores are. None of us like to be tested, but sometimes it's a necessary evil of our civilization.