Is my child afraid of failing?

This test covers anticipation, failure, avoidance, self-esteem, comparison, shame, perfectionism, what others think, speaking up, concentration, pain, tension, reassurance, recognition and readiness to change. What the test asks, for example Anticipation If your child dreads assessments to the point of talking about them several days in advance. If your child starts a piece of work, a test or an assessed activity telling themselves they can do it. Failure If your child is paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake before starting a new task. If your child gives it a go even when they might fail in front of others. Avoidance If your child invents reasons to avoid participating in competitive or assessed activities. If your child gets down to difficult schoolwork without delay. Self-esteem If your child links their failures to what they are rather than to what they do. If your child keeps their confidence after a failure. Comparison If your child compares their results to those of others in a systematically unfavorable way. If your child feels inferior to their classmates as soon as there is any comparison of results. Shame If your child is afraid that others will discover they are not as good as they think. If your child experiences a bad grade as a source of shame rather than as useful information. Perfectionism If your child refuses to hand in their work until it is perfect. If your child spends much longer than expected preparing or checking before an assessment, never feeling ready. What others think If your child falls apart when an adult observes or evaluates them, even for a task they have mastered. If your child keeps their concentration even when they realize someone is watching what they are doing. Speaking up If your child refuses to read aloud, present a project or perform in public. If your child raises their hand in class when they think they know the answer. Concentration If your child forgets what they knew as soon as they are placed in a formal test situation. If your child answers without freezing during a written test or an oral examination when they know the answer. Pain If your child complains of stomach ache, nausea or headache before an assessment. If your child has a stomach ache, a headache or restlessness before a test, a competition or a performance. Tension If your child's hands clench or their posture goes rigid in assessment situations. If your child stays calm during a test, a presentation or a competition. Reassurance If your child asks for repeated confirmation on how to prepare for an assessment, without feeling reassured. If your child takes in the encouragements or compliments adults give about their performance. Recognition If your child does not own their successes and attributes them to luck or to the ease of the task. If your child fully enjoys a good grade. Readiness to change If your child's fear of failing has a real impact on their wellbeing or your family life right now. If you want to take action to help your child cope better with assessment situations.