How do you motivate young children to do their best in school in this day and age when the curriculum has evolved to demanding levels and the distractions in this material world have advanced to more enticing proportions? Simple, you say, just enhance and vary your techniques in motivating them.
Here are 12 ways on how to motivate your child to study in school:
1. Minimize negative words —no, can’t, won’t, never.
2. Stress the “I’ll Make It Happen” words: yes, I can, and I will.
3. Do the Basketball Shuffle:
— write “It’s in your court NOW” on a basketball.
— Put the ball in a neutral, yet easily seen area (i.e. the kitchen). This signifies to the parent and the student they need to work together to achieve scholastic goals.
— After some time put the basketball in the student’s room indicating in a positive, yet physical way, that the student is in charge of his/her success in school. The student can “pass” the ball back to the parents when asking for help.
— If the student “passes” the ball to the parent, then the parent must display the ball in a prominent place until the student receives the help he/she needs. They may then “pass” the basketball back to the student.
— The basketball becomes a fun, visual, and practical way to show the student they have to take an active role in their education.
4. With your child, develop thirteen character traits you want to work on together. This might include honesty, fairness, self-control, etc. Take one character trait each week and concentrate on improving in that area. Agree to help each other improve on the chosen trait. At the end of the week, go on to the next character development trait on your list. Continue the process until you complete all thirteen weeks of character traits. Option: Start over again at the top of the list and go through the list again. (Note: This is what Ben Franklin did week after week for fifty-seven years.)
5. Stress the importance of goal setting. By learning how to set and achieve goals and how to use these principles in the classroom, students will take more personal ownership for their education.
6. Remind them that they are the ones who determine their final grade.
7. At least three times per week, have your child write down this question — “Did I give my best effort to today’s activities?” If they answer yes, that’s great. Reward them. If they answer no, then have them list two things they will do tomorrow to improve their effort.
8. Help your child shift the focus from him/herself by demonstrating the importance of helping others.
9. Teach the children time management.
10. Nourish their bodies and minds with good food.
11. Teachers should spend more time explaining why they teach what they do, and why the topic or approach or activity is important and interesting and worthwhile.
12. Students respond with interest and motivation to teachers who appear to be human and caring.