{"id":1556,"date":"2025-12-22T19:48:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T19:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/?p=1556"},"modified":"2026-01-06T19:54:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:54:30","slug":"holidays-calm-exams-supporting-young-people-at-the-end-of-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/2025\/12\/22\/holidays-calm-exams-supporting-young-people-at-the-end-of-term\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday’s, Calm & Exams: Supporting Young People at the End of Term"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we reach the\u00a0<\/span>final week of term<\/strong>, many families are holding two very different things at once.<\/p>\n

On one hand, there\u2019s the excitement of Christmas \u2014 a pause, a celebration, a chance to breathe.
\nOn the other hand, there\u2019s a quiet pressure building beneath the surface:\u00a0<\/span>exam season is coming<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

GCSEs. A-levels. University assessments. Coursework deadlines.
\nFor many young people, this time of year isn\u2019t just festive \u2014 it\u2019s emotionally demanding.<\/p>\n

Hi to all of you from us here at the Julian Campbell Foundation.<\/strong>
\nAt this point every year, we see the same pattern emerging \u2014 and today we want to gently bring it into awareness, so families can move through this season with more\u00a0<\/span>calm, confidence, and connection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Why This Time of Year Feels So Heavy<\/h2>\n

Young people across generations experience this, but it\u2019s particularly intense for teenagers and students. Exams can feel like a defining moment \u2014 a test not just of knowledge, but of worth, future, and identity.<\/p>\n

At JCF, through our\u00a0<\/span>Mood Mentoring programmes in schools and communities<\/strong>, we support young people to manage their\u00a0<\/span>mental health and wellbeing<\/strong>, especially during high-pressure periods like this.<\/p>\n

One thing we know for certain:<\/p>\n

Achievement doesn\u2019t begin with academic intelligence \u2014 it begins with emotional intelligence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When young people learn to understand their moods, regulate stress, and move themselves into a more resourceful state, their confidence and achievement rise naturally.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The Power of Scaffolding: What Parents & Carers Can Offer<\/h2>\n

One of the most consistent messages from our mood mentors is this:<\/p>\n

Young people thrive when adults provide a steady, predictable framework around them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not control \u2014\u00a0<\/span>scaffolding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This foundation allows young people to focus, rest, revise, and grow.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>1. Create a Balanced Daily Rhythm<\/h3>\n

Consistency is calming for the nervous system.<\/p>\n

Support young people with:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Regular\u00a0<\/span>wake-up and sleep times<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • At least 8 hours of sleep<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(especially for teenagers)<\/li>\n
  • Clear boundaries between\u00a0<\/span>revision and rest<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Late nights, all-nighters, and caffeine-fuelled study sessions may feel productive \u2014 but they often increase anxiety and reduce focus.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>Think of energy drinks like a credit card: you borrow now, but the cost comes later.<\/p>\n

    Water, proper meals, and sleep are far more effective.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>2. Movement Matters<\/h3>\n

    Young people need\u00a0<\/span>around an hour of movement a day<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u2014 and it doesn\u2019t have to be all at once.<\/p>\n

    A walk after meals.
    \nA short workout.
    \nFresh air between revision sessions.<\/p>\n

    Movement resets the brain and improves concentration \u2014 especially during exam preparation.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span>3. Regular, Nourishing Meals<\/h3>\n

    Especially during holidays or half-term, routines can slip.<\/p>\n

    Try to keep:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Fixed meal times<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Nutritious food<\/li>\n
    • Shared meals where possible<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      A short walk after eating is one of the simplest ways to improve mood and digestion \u2014 and it\u2019s often when the best conversations happen.<\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/span>4. Encourage Open, Judgment-Free Communication<\/h3>\n

      One of the greatest gifts you can give a young person right now is\u00a0<\/span>your full attention<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      That means:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Listening without interrupting<\/li>\n
      • Putting the phone down<\/li>\n
      • Not rushing to fix or advise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Sometimes young people don\u2019t need solutions \u2014 they need to be heard.<\/p>\n

        A problem shared really is a problem halved.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        When young people feel listened to, they carry less emotional weight \u2014 and that frees up energy for learning.<\/p>\n

        5. Support Revision \u2014 Without Adding Pressure<\/h3>\n

        Most schools will already have provided revision timetables. Where possible:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Familiarise yourself with their plan<\/li>\n
        • Help break revision into\u00a0<\/span>manageable chunks<\/strong><\/li>\n
        • Encourage\u00a0<\/span>short, regular breaks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          And here\u2019s something many students (and parents) find reassuring:<\/p>\n

          It\u2019s better to know\u00a0<\/span>less content deeply<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>than more content superficially.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

          As a former science teacher and consultant for 20 years, I\u2019ve seen this again and again. Deep understanding transfers across questions and topics \u2014 and builds confidence in the exam room.<\/p>\n

          When Extra Support Is Needed<\/h3>\n

          This time of year can feel overwhelming \u2014 and that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n

          If a young person seems particularly anxious, withdrawn, or stuck:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Speak with the school<\/li>\n
          • Reach out to mentors or counsellors<\/li>\n
          • Consider additional emotional support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            At the Julian Campbell Foundation, our\u00a0<\/span>mood mentors work alongside schools<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>to help young people manage stress, anxiety, and pressure \u2014 especially during exam periods.<\/p>\n

            A Holiday Message to Families\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

            Whatever you do now \u2014 the routines you create, the way you listen, the calm you model \u2014 you are teaching young people\u00a0<\/span>how to manage themselves for life<\/strong>, not just for exams.<\/p>\n

            This Holiday season, aim for:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Structure, not stress<\/li>\n
            • Presence, not pressure<\/li>\n
            • Support, not perfection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              And remember:\u00a0<\/span>you don\u2019t have to do this alone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

              From all of us at the\u00a0<\/span>Julian Campbell Foundation<\/strong>, we wish you and the young people in your life a peaceful Christmas period, steady preparation for the months ahead, and the confidence to move forward \u2014 one calm step at a time.<\/p>\n

              If there\u2019s anything you\u2019d like us to speak about next, please leave a comment below.<\/p>\n

              \u2014\u00a0<\/span>Julian Campbell Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              As we reach the\u00a0final week of term, many families are holding two very different things at once. On one hand, there\u2019s the excitement of Christmas \u2014 a pause, a celebration, a chance to breathe. On the other hand, there\u2019s a quiet pressure building beneath the surface:\u00a0exam season is coming. GCSEs. A-levels. University assessments. Coursework deadlines. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1557,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-young-peoples-mental-health"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-Nov-3-2025-02_43_38-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1556"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1560,"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556\/revisions\/1560"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juliancampbellfoundation.org\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}