As most parents know, children will master new concepts at their own pace. Some kids are ready to tackle multiplication on the first day, while others may need more time to warm up. But if your child does not like schoolwork and has little interest in – or proficiency in – academics early on, this comprehensive guide is for you! Read on to find out how you can motivate your child to learn.
When motivating your child, remember that you aren’t trying to force them into doing something they don’t want to do. The idea is to find ways to motivate them to embrace the academic world and unlock their potential. In other words, they must have a passion for learning and a desire to expand their capabilities. If they don’t, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to motivate them to do anything, especially if you try tricking or forcing them into a task.
So, how should you go about it?
Ensure the Environment is Safe and Loving
The first thing you need to know about motivation is that your child can’t learn if they feel safe and secure. The classroom environment needs to feel like a loving, nurturing place that encourages learning and growth. If your child feels like they are in an overly strict environment with lots of pressure to perform, there’s no way they’ll be motivated to learn. So, how do we create a safe and nurturing environment?
Above all else, we must keep in mind that we’re dealing with children here. Kids want you to treat them like kids! So, while you should set clear expectations on their behaviour and performance, don’t go overboard with the rules. And when you do establish regulations, don’t forget to remind yourself that your child is still a child. Rules must be predictable and consistent, so they know what to expect from you.
But rules are only part of the equation. If you have a child afraid of being reprimanded, they’ll have a hard time being motivated. So, you’ll also need to show them that you love them even when they’re making mistakes. This means that you must be careful not to shame them before the other students, which happens too often in classrooms.
Make Learning Fun
The second step is to make learning enjoyable. To do this, you’ll need to build a positive learning environment in your classroom. Once you have this environment in place, teaching will be much easier. Your child will feel safe and secure, loved and accepted, and will be eager to learn.
From the mastering of the components of emergent literacy, every child learns in their way. You should, therefore, avoid setting up your classroom in a way that will only work for some students. Instead, let each student take charge of their learning process. This means that they’ll feel more engaged and invested in their studies, which will lead to higher levels of achievement.
When it comes time to learn about science or social studies, you should use games and activities that are fun and interactive. Remember to keep lessons interesting by bringing in new games every few weeks.
Let Your Child Take Part in the Decision Making Process
While you’re teaching your students about various subjects, be sure to let them participate in decision-making. Letting them decide on their methods of learning will give them a sense of ownership. This can be highly motivating, especially if they feel like you are listening to their voices.
After all, no one likes to feel like they have no control over what’s happening around them. It can be disheartening to have to do things a certain way just because someone tells you to.
Provide them with the Opportunities to be Creative
Some people think that creativity is for those who are out of touch with reality. They believe that the only thing that matters is getting good grades and scoring well on tests. However, creativity has many uses, especially when it comes to learning. But what is creativity exactly?
Creativity is simply the ability to see things differently. Everyone can be creative in some way, even if they don’t realize it. This means that when you’re giving your child instructions, you must be open to their ideas about how to do something. Even if they end up taking a different approach, they’ll learn more in the end. Therefore, always aim to spark creativity in your child.
Share Your Passion for Learning with your Child
As a teacher, you have a powerful influence on your child. This is why it’s so vital that you look for ways to share your passion for learning. You don’t need to become involved in all of their classes, but if they like one subject, introduce them to the basics and tell them more about it. This will inspire them to take an interest in the subject and do well at school.
Find Ways to Encourage your Child to Continue Learning
If you’re satisfied with their performance, you can let them know that there is no need to push themselves further. But if they persist in working hard, keep giving them the support they need. Encouraging their learning will inspire them to keep improving and develop more abilities.
It’s also important not to create expectations on them that are too high. If their academic success is at risk of falling below expected, give them some time to catch up. This will help them feel more confident and put them in a better position to continue.
Remember that Learning Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum
Finally, remember that learning doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You can’t just tell your child that they need to study or read more without making sure they have the opportunity to do it. Take them out for a walk or make sure they have access to books at home to read more at their own pace.
Aside from this, you must provide them with the right environment to learn in. This means that you should organize your classroom in a way that allows them to focus and be productive.
Believe That They Can Be Successful Learners
The last thing you need to do is believe in your child’s ability to learn. While we’ve talked about how we can improve our children’s motivation, we can also go a step further and help them believe that they can be successful learners. It’s certainly easier said than done, but there are many ways to do this.
To start things off:
Doing this will show your children that their efforts are worth something beyond just getting suitable grades. It will also help undermine any doubts they may have about their abilities as a learner.
Help them Develop a Positive Attitude Towards School
You must also help your children see themselves as able learners. That’s why you must get to know your child. Understand their likes and dislikes so that you know how to reach out to them and help them learn more about subjects they find difficult or exciting.
Another way you can encourage your child is by setting things up so they have fun in class. If your classroom feels like a fun and welcoming place for them, they’ll be more inclined to spend their time there. You can set up an area for studying and turn off the lights to turn it into a fun club. This will show your kids that they can learn and enjoy themselves in the same place.
Teach Them That Learning is something to be Enjoyed
Most of all, you must teach them that learning is something to be enjoyed. If you see your children as people who are always looking for fun, they’ll view school as something that’s not so scary. The more they enjoy learning, the more likely it is that they’ll do well in class.
There are no right or wrong ways to teach your child about education. All you need to worry about is finding a style of teaching which works for them and provides the best results. If you keep these tips in mind, you can be sure that your child will have a great start at school.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that children constantly crave attention from their homeschooling parents and teachers. The best way to give them this attention is to show an interest in what they’re doing. Ask questions about what you see your child doing. You can then use this as a springboard for more discussion and interaction with your kids.
You’d be surprised how many people fall into the trap of telling their children they need to improve. They feel like they’ve failed somehow. But the reality is that every child has different learning styles and abilities. Some are more gifted than others, but everyone can be a good student and learn if allowed. So, let your child know you want them to succeed! Then make their experience with learning positive and enjoyable – this will go a long way in motivating them to continue learning.
What do you think?