Listen: How parents can help their Gen Z child through the stress of Matric exams
Writing matric exams can be stressful for both the parent and the student, that's why the Breakfast team caught up with a Counselling Psychologist from SACAP to find out how parents can help their Gen Z children navigate through their matric exams.
Listen as the Breakfast team talk to Jogini Packery, Counselling Psychologist and Head of Student Services at SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology), or read the details below.
Parents often think that because they once wrote Matric exams ourselves, they are perfectly capable of supporting their child through the biggest exam period of their education. However, parents need to be aware that there is a massive difference between their Gen Z child and themselves.
According to a Press Release by The South African College of Applied Psychology, Gen Z refers to "those children/teenagers born between 1995 and 2009 and as with all other generations, this cohort has distinct strengths and weaknesses."
Gen Z have higher IQs than Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 - 1964), greater ambition than Millennials (those born between 1981 - 1997), and a well-developed sense of responsibility. Gen Z kids are also known as the 'Digital Natives' as they can't imagine a world without their phones, WiFi, and even Google.
READ: KZN Matric learners share messages of support ahead of exams
Due to the vast differences between the Baby Boomer parent and the Gen Z child, parents need to be aware that because their kids are using technology to study, isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's actually what they feel comfortable with. Hence parents need to be constantly trying to understand how their kid wants to study. Taking your kid's phone away during exam time isn't always the best idea.
It’s important for parents to have a clear view of their child’s real competencies and allow them to plan for their Matric study time in the ways that work best for them. Parents can’t forget that they will most likely prepare best by doing some things very differently to the way they did them all those years ago.
“Helping to manage stress might well be the greatest thing a parent can do support their child through this Matric year,” says Jogini Packery, Counselling Psychologist and Head of Student Services at SACAP.
SACAP is bringing their specialist Applied Psychology training skills to KwaZulu-Natal. They are in the process of launching an incredible Durban campus in Berea. For more information about applications, click here.
Are you a parent who has a Gen Z child currently writing their Matric exams? What advice can you share for other parents to help understand their Gen Z child better? Share your comments with us below.