Stubborn Child? Here’s How to Motivate Them to Learn
Education
Stubborn Child? Here’s How to Motivate Them to Learn Anyone who has tried to get a child to do their homework knows that motivation can be a big issue. Tougher tasks, such as trying to learn Chinese or basic math skills, may have kids constantly on the lookout for distractions. Once they have the right motivation, they can focus their seemingly limitless energy toward a practical goal. Here are a few ways you can inspire the young ones in your life to strive for success!
Focus on Strengths
Every child is unique, and a good way to motivate your child is to play to their strengths. While there are advantages to a well-rounded education, finding the things that kids excel in will position them to be more successful; this has the dual benefit of building their self-esteem and helping them find other skills they want to nurture.
If a child wants to learn Chinese and they have an excellent memory, incorporate memory games into lesson plans. Burgeoning artists may want to color pictures of vocabulary words, helping them retain information in a way that makes them feel productive. When a child feels successful, they’re more likely to stay motivated, no matter the subject!
Building on Their Interests
They say if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life; the same concept applies to children, especially when it comes to motivating their education. Learning about a kid’s interests is not the same as identifying their strengths. They may find a fandom particularly interesting or gravitate to a specific series of books or graphic novels.
Find ways to link those interests to the skills you both are looking to develop. Finding translations of favorite stories in Mandarin is an excellent option for kids learning Chinese. Try watching cartoons in a different language to help kids pick up new vocabulary and understand basic sentence structure. Even video games and simple apps can act as motivational tools.
Watching Your Language
A motivational speech can often be counterproductive. While a sports team may need a pep talk before the big game, children are more likely to respond negatively when the topic turns to the ethics of hard work. Many motivational speeches focus on the negative aspects of performance. Some of the ways you can provide positive reinforcement include:
- Future Performance: Try and help them figure out how to change the process to have a more positive outcome.
- Individual Assessment: Instead of telling a child how they did, ask them their own thoughts on the results.
- Positive Support: Telling a child they have what it takes to be successful goes a long way in improving their perceived self-worth.
No matter their age, kids flourish when given positive attention and reinforcement. Not only does it motivate them to succeed, but it also helps them build strong relationships and engender trust and security.
Rewards and Consequences
Positive reinforcement can be shown in a number of ways, but one of the most effective motivational tools is a reward system. Whether it’s a single prize for accomplishing a task or an accumulation of points towards a larger goal, offering some kind of recompense at the end of hard work gives kids an easily identifiable goal to work towards. Some low-cost, high-impact options include:
- A second helping of dessert
- An extra hour of screen time
- Getting to choose the Friday night movie
- Selecting the dinner meal
- Playing a special board game
In contrast, children should also understand the consequences of failure. Allowing kids to experience the results of their actions can act as a future motivator itself. If a child is taking classes to learn Chinese but doesn’t do the homework, a poor grade on the test may be enough to show them that their efforts are indeed worthwhile. However, don’t rely on punishments as a motivator; children are more likely to build resentment from this than better habits.
Visualizing Success
Sometimes it takes a good role model to act as a motivator. A good way to get your child interested in developing a skill is to show them someone who has already mastered it. Exposing kids to successful individuals shows that it’s achievable and that hard work does offer positive results. Look for either fictional or real-world examples for little learners to emulate, giving them a blueprint for accomplishment.
Everyone is motivated by something, and children are no different. The key to helping them become successful is helping them identify their true interests. Aiding your child in understanding what drives them to succeed will give them an edge that many adults have yet to find. After they learn how to motivate themselves, you’ll both be surprised at how far they can go!
Stubborn Child? Here’s How to Motivate Them to Learn
