CARE Singapore Launches Free "Rest Papers" to Help Kids Recharge During Exam Season

With PSLE 2026 just a few weeks away, here's a fun way to remind the kids that life is beyond the papers and they can still rest and have fun too! 

With the written papers for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) just around the corner, 12-year-olds across Singapore are in the thick of exam season. Stacks of practice papers are piling high, and revision schedules leave very little room to breathe.

While research consistently shows that short, purposeful breaks reduce anxiety, improve mental focus, and boost overall study efficiency, taking a pause can often feel like losing valuable ground.

To help break this cycle, youth-centric charity CARE Singapore has introduced Rest Papers—a free set of practice booklets designed to give Primary 6 students official permission to step away from their desks and reset.

How Rest Papers Work: Flipping the Exam Paper Format

At first glance, a Rest Paper looks and feels exactly like the familiar mock test papers children tackle every day. However, opening the booklet reveals something completely different: there are no complex math problem sums, tricky comprehension passages, model answers, or marks awarded.

Instead, each paper contains lighthearted, low-pressure activities that encourage children to draw, move, create, or step outdoors:

• Low-Pressure Creativity: Activities such as Complete the Eyes ask children to draw squiggly, silly eyes onto various animal outlines.

• Sensory & Visual Breaks: Exercises like Ham-mouflage challenge kids to draw flowers around a hamster to hide it in plain sight.

• Movement & Action: Prompts like Purr-actical Skills feature illustrations like a cat performing paper sit-ups to encourage physical movement or a quick laugh.

There are no right or wrong answers, no time limits, and zero performance pressure. The activities are designed to help children step out of perfectionism and reset their minds before returning to their revision.

Why Rest is Part of Good Preparation

Exam pressure among young students is increasingly driven by peer comparison, tuition demands, and self-imposed expectations. Local psychologists report steady year-on-year increases in cases involving exam-related stress, with many students internalising the idea that every moment spent away from studying is wasted time.

By dressing up a break inside the familiar structure of a practice paper, the initiative makes taking a breather feel like a natural, intentional part of preparing for exams rather than a distraction. Short breaks allow children to process what they have learned, relieve mental fatigue, and return to their textbooks with better concentration.

Seven primary schools in Singapore, including Riverside Primary School, have already introduced Rest Papers as an exam-season wellbeing resource, giving students a lighthearted surprise during their study sessions.

BYKidO Tips for Parents

• Incorporate it Between Revision Blocks: Place a Rest Paper on your child’s study desk between practice sets. Setting a timer for a 10 to 15-minute "Rest Paper break" gives them a clear, guilt-free window to clear their mind.

• Do a Page Together: Use the activities as a low-stress bonding moment. Joining your child to doodle or complete a page together offers a gentle way to check in on their emotional wellbeing without asking directly about test scores.

• Print Multiple Copies: Download the free PDF version from the official website so you have extra pages on hand whenever your child shows signs of study fatigue or restlessness.

Practical Details & Availability

• Cost: Completely FREE (available in physical print and digital download)

• Target Audience: Primary 6 students preparing for the PSLE, as well as parents looking to integrate healthy study breaks into home revision routines

• Physical Pick-Up Locations:

  • Book Point: #02-69 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231 (Available alongside regular test papers)

  • Past Exam Papers: #02-K2 Beauty World Centre, Singapore 588177

Downloads & More Information

To download your free digital copy of the Rest Papers or to learn more about youth mental health resources, visit the official CARE Singapore Rest Papers Portal.