It's exam season and my youngest is falling apart. He puts so much pressure on him self that he becomes catatonic when the exam actually comes round.
I have the feeling that school feel I am too soft and should be more forceful with him, somewhat dismissing his anxiety as something he can switch off at will. My experience of pushing him does make him internalize his issues, which I consider to be more harmful for him, and don't want him to feel that he cannot come to me with his worries because he feels the outcome will be that I make him do what he can't do, so in his mind what's the point of telling mum.
Question is which approach is the right one. A strongly feel that a nurturing one is better, but struggle to explain this to tutors who don't have the time and patience to go at the child pace.