Your Kids’ Stress Levels: Finals Season

This time of year the pressure mounts as teenage and college-age kids finish their semesters. What can we as parents do for them? How can we assist in their mental health during this season?

Finals season is a uniquely intense time for our kids. With every paper, presentation, and exam looming, it can feel like the weight of the world rests on their young shoulders. As parents, we may find ourselves unsure of how to help. Do we back off and give them space? Do we step in and try to manage the stress for them? Somewhere in the middle lies a powerful invitation: to be present, attuned, and anchored for them in the storm.

1. Be a calm and curious presence.

Our kids don’t need us to have all the answers. But they do need us to be emotionally available. If we can stay grounded and peaceful, we offer them something they can’t find in their textbooks—emotional safety. Ask questions that help them process: “What’s the most stressful part of your week?” or “Where do you feel the pressure the most—in your mind, your body, or your emotions?” Your calm curiosity gives them permission to be honest and real.

2. Don’t try to fix. Offer empathy instead.

This season isn’t the time for motivational speeches or pointing out how they “should have studied earlier.” What they need now is what we all need when we’re overwhelmed: compassion. Jesus shows us again and again that presence is more healing than pressure. A simple “That sounds exhausting. I’m really proud of how hard you’re working” can go a long way in lifting a burden.

3. Adjust expectations at home.

This is a good week to not expect too much around the house. Lighten their load if you can. Don’t nag about messy rooms or dishes left in the sink. A little grace here is a big statement of trust and support. If they feel home is a place of rest rather than another source of pressure, their mental health will be strengthened.

4. Remind them of their identity, not just their performance.

Our culture equates worth with productivity, grades, and achievements. But as believers, we know that identity is given, not earned. Finals week is a powerful moment to whisper to your child the truths they may forget: “You are loved. You are secure. Your worth does not rise or fall with a test score.” Their soul needs these reminders more than their brain needs another study session.

5. Model trust in God.

Finally, let your posture reflect your own trust in Jesus. Pray over them—not just for good grades, but for peace and presence. Let them hear you say things like “We’re going to be okay no matter what,” and “God’s got you, and I trust Him with your future.” Our faith can be a steady lighthouse when everything else feels uncertain.

Let’s not underestimate the gift of being anchored parents in a chaotic season. We don’t need to control the outcome of their tests, but we can create the kind of environment where peace, presence, and grace are felt deeply.

We are not raising test-takers; we are raising whole-hearted, beloved children of God.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can I shift my focus from fixing my student’s stress to being a source of emotional safety for them?

2. In what ways might my own anxiety about their performance be affecting how I respond during finals season?

3. What would it look like to use some time after finals as an opportunity to speak deeper identity truths into my child’s life?