Morning tummy aches and delay tactics...

Smashing the Nervous ANT at test taking time!

“Eat your breakfast, Alexia, the bus will be here soon,” you say as you watch your daughter push the cereal around in her bowl. “Mom, I have a tummy ache,” she replies. Yet earlier this morning she was playing with her younger brother and doing just fine. Why the sudden tummy ache?

You’re sure from past experience that there is something she’s nervous about. After talking to Alexia for a few minutes you find out what’s really wrong. She has a test today. Your smart daughter has responded this way before. Based upon last night’s study session, you’re confident that she knows the material, yet she is very nervous anyway! You can’t help but wonder how much her nervousness will impact her test score.

Almost everyone has times when they experience the Nervous ANT. While nervousness is a natural human feeling, it becomes an ANT (Automatic Negative Thought) when it gets in the way of success and confidence. How can your child smash the Nervous ANT? Teach her to Energize It!

Energize It! is a proactive ANT Smasher. It’s used when you realize you have an ongoing fear or nervousness around a particular activity. For some, it’s taking tests, for others it’s riding rollercoasters and for most of the American population, its public speaking! At camp, Andy the ANTeater, during one of the cartoon movies, helps children to identify and locate the funny feeling one gets when anticipating doing a nerve-racking activity. Once exposed, children learn how to Energize It!

Here’s how to Energize It!

Think of a time when you felt great! Feel it as if you are experiencing the awesome activity right now! Keep that excited, wonderful feeling in your “imaginary pocket” where you can call upon it at a moment’s notice.
Now, think of a situation that causes you to feel nervous. This may be taking a test, participating in a sports competition, performing in a musical recital or any other activity.
As soon as you notice you are starting to feel that funny nervous feeling…
Immediately, take the exciting feeling out of your imaginary pocket and attach it to the situation that causes you to feel nervous.
Energize it! Get Excited, Celebrate! Jump up and down! Go crazy! Feel that great feeling right now!
Now start over at step two, and picture, from the beginning, doing the nerve-racking activity. Keep doing this process until, when you think of doing the nerve-racking activity, you feel excited instead of nervous.

The next time your daughter has a test and you see her confident glow as she gobbles up her breakfast, you’ll know Energize It! is working!

Nancy Sheain & Kathy Norton

Building Futures, LLC

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