With so many other "things" distracting children today, it's becoming harder and harder to motivate children to learn. If you want your child to excel and become an academic success, motivating your child to learn is of the utmost importance. Let's look at some ways to motivate your child to be his or her best.
Motivate your little learner by:
Reading. Reading is a gateway to all learning, and raising a reader can equally translate to raising a motivated learner. Whether you get your child interested in "Dairy of a Wimpy Kid," "Harry Potter," or other series, find a way to encourage a bookworm and you'll find it easier to motivate kids to learn in general. Also, lead by example; read as much as possible yourself, whether it's just the newspaper, to encourage your child to do the same.
Making a big deal out of achievements. The tiniest achievement should be rewarded to show your child how proud you are of his efforts. Praise your child for every achievement, and he'll want to keep collecting those accolades. Give positive reinforcements for some achievements; for example, finishing a book may merit inviting a friend over for a sleepover, while getting all "Bs" on a report card may mean a trip to his favorite pizza place with the family.
Providing playtime opportunities for learning. Whether through learning games online or via a game console or trips to the zoo or museum, make learning an adventure to motivate your child to excel.
Helping your child get organized. No matter the grade level, your child probably needs some help learning to be organized – and organization leads to success – and motivates your child for more success. Help your child create a system for school work, including a regular time scheduled each day for homework or for online tutoring sessions. Structure is a stepping stone to success.
Encouraging your child to be the best, but not expecting it. If you set your expectations too high, your child can feel overwhelmed and actually do worse in school. Let your child know that even though she didn't ace that history exam, she did a great job on her math test, and you know she tried her best. Learning to accept failure and learn from is part of becoming a success.
Promoting active discussion about school work. Ask your child each day to name a few things that he learned. Discuss problems that he may be having, and work together for solutions on how to improve if improvement is needed.
Helping your child build a goal list, and then helping him to complete it. Set reasonable goals; for example, your child has a goal of memorizing The Periodic Table of the Elements by the end of the school year. Work together to come up with steps to achieve these goals. Having a goal to work toward is a big motivator for many learners.
Getting help if it's needed. A child who needs additional help on his homework may benefit from tutoring. Look into options, whether in person or via an online tutoring service, to help your child grasp concepts that he struggles with – which can make your child more motivated to excel.
Above all, remember that no two children are alike. What motivates one child may not phase the next. Use trial-and-error to determine what sets passion for learning alight in your child, and then roll with it.
