Tips on Going Through the Testing/Admissions Process With Your Child for the First Time

Do not stress out about this – that will stress out your child.
Be calm and just do your best. Find the best tools for your child and use them.
Don’t force your child. If you force them to perform at a level they are not ready for, they will doubt themselves and develop a distaste for learning. You don’t want that.
Do not send your child into the test without practice! Even the most gifted or advanced students may not be familiar with the types of questions being asked. Understanding how to approach each type of question and to get through the test in the allotted time is crucial.
Accept your child’s feelings and respect their struggles with the material.
Start as early as possible – this will alleviate stressing out later.

Prepare your child to the best of their abilities. You can’t do more than that. Spend enough time. Explain what they are being asked to do. Make sure they understand the task.
With an older child, make sure that you won’t be disappointed in them if they don’t get into the program. Encourage them to do their very best – that if they give it their all, you will be proud of them for trying.
Be a smart, passionate learner yourself. Lead by example. Be curious and show how much it can mean to embrace knowledge and understand your world and how it works.
Take it one day at a time and work at your child’s pace.
Use TestingMom. My daughter testifies to the fact that it was a tremendous help to her!
Investigate the tests and admissions process in your area. The more you know, the more you can help your child.

Understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Be realistic as to what is the best program for your child.
Review your school choices carefully. Tour the schools. Read and absorb as much as you can about the schools that interest you. Talk to parents with children in different schools. Looks can be deceiving, and what’s right for one child may not be right for yours.
Find out what test is being given (or what type of test), study up on it, and prepare your child.
Be patient and don’t lose your cool if your child isn’t getting it right away.
Start early so you can make each test prep session short. Then your child won’t get tired of it.
Be prepared. Get accurate information about the procedures in your area. Give your child lots of time to practice.

Make the time to work with your child yourself. Nobody is a better teacher to your child than you. Nobody will have the patience you have. Nobody cares as much as you do. Nobody will notice what your child doesn’t do well and needs help with the way you will. You are your child’s most important teacher.
Relax. It will be okay. Life is more than getting into the gifted program or private school on the first try. You may find out that where they end up is better than what you thought you wanted for them.
Many wonderful and successful people are at an average or below average IQ. Find out what works best for the child you have and not the child you want.
In our county, the gifted program is almost a secret. Until a child is identified by her teacher as “gifted,” parents are pretty much closed off from learning about the program. From Kindergarten – 3rd grade, my child was bored and unchallenged. I talked to her teachers and all they told me was to buy supplemental materials. It wasn’t until my daughter scored in a 97 composite on her CogAT that her teachers took notice. I wish they had listened to me before. Teachers need to be more receptive to parents when parents inform them that their child isn’t being challenged.
Do prepare your child. It will make all the difference because he will know what to expect.

Be aware of the mindset these programs and schools have towards kids who are “young” in their grade. Expect a lot of pushback to start these kids a year later – but know your child and what they are capable of so you can be their advocate.
You know what your child is capable of. Go with your gut. Prepare them for the test so they feel more confident going in.
All you have to do is follow the TestingMom website materials and that will be the best preparation. I am very grateful that you took the time to organize all those conferences, think up all those practice questions, write those helpful books, etc.
Try to get as much information as you can about the testing process in your area. Use all the resources you can afford.
If your child is not prepared, he will be competing with children who have the same intellectual ability but they know what to expect. Please share your best tip for working with your child by leaving a Facebook comment below! If we like it, we’ll add it to the list above!