So how do we deal with children who have test anxiety at school or performance anxiety in sports? The answer to that I have found through years of experience is very simple – practice. Practice taking a practice test under time constraints. That will reduce that child’s anxiety when they actually take the test. In sports, practice having to do the performance. Pretend that there is two strikes and the bases are loaded and everyone’s yelling and you have to get a hit. And practice those at bats. Practice the pressure that comes, that causes the anxiety. Once you do this, it really lowers the anxiety, because they’ve already been there and done it. And they’re very much more confident after that.