Five Ways to Get Your Kid Motivated to Study
Is your child achieving poor results at school? If you answered yes, there are a few things you can do. Even though educational success and good grades don't necessarily mean that your child will have a successful career in the future, school is one of the essential aspects of every child's life.
Parents' support can boost children's confidence, motivate them to study and explore science. But, in some cases, too pushy parents can achieve the opposite effects, especially in teenagers’ age.
Here are a few things you can try to motivate your kid to focus on studying.
#1 Ensure Healthy Studying Atmosphere
Whether your child is in elementary school, high school, or at university, he needs a similar environment to study. It means a quiet atmosphere with lots of light, healthy snacks, and nutritious meals.
Keep the distractions as low as possible. If it means removing the TV from your kid's room, do it. You may bring it back once the exam season is over.
Keep a stack of pencils, markers, erasers, notebooks, calculators, and everything a child needs to complete homework and study.
You can also help the child clean up the desk.
#2 Distinct Learning and Grades
There isn't an educational system that is 100% fair and perfect. Some value grades more than genuine knowledge. Nurture honest communication with your child about the importance of knowledge in life. Try not to make everything about grades.
Come up with your system of promoting learning milestones. Reward those milestones and not grades. For example, if your child is struggling with a physics problem, be supportive and celebrate each time your kid gets a step closer to the solution. It might include understanding physics law or doing the calculation well.
Instead of praising good grades and punishing bad, reward a good learning routine, frequent homework completion, and the grades will eventually get better.
That way, you are helping your child develop a healthy approach to education and good studying habits. It will pay off in the long run and help your child overcome all educational obstacles he encounters later in life.
#3 Identify the Primary Issue
Parents whose children have expressed a sudden change in their grades need to identify the trigger. The reasons might be various and include everything from problems with friends to anxiety and low self-confidence.
Sometimes, kids don't open easily and aren't willing to discuss what is bothering them. Some kids don't understand the material but are too shy to admit it. It is especially true for those kids who have been good at school, and suddenly they don't understand a thing anymore.
In those cases, getting help might be a suitable solution. Other kids find school too easy, and they are bored with the things they know. With them, you need to discuss their obligations and help them find something challenging and interesting.
The people around your kid might also be the reason. Has he started seeing new friends lately? Or he stopped seeing his old friends?
Open and honest communication is, in most cases, a healthy path to solution and motivation. Kids can get moody and shy when discussing their issues, so parents need to observe their behavior closely.
Once you determine what triggered the lack of motivation for school, you can consult with your partner, child, teachers, school psychologist, and other experts to suggest the most effective solution.
#4 Encourage your Child to Explore
Maybe the current learning style that your child's school promotes isn't fit for his preferences. Encourage him to try different approaches and see which style is the best for him. For example, some kids have the best results when learning math every day.
Others understand better when they have a batch of lessons to study before the exam. It doesn't mean that your child is lazy and waits for the last moment to study. Some understand better when they encounter the whole rather than fragments of studying material.
#5 Focus on Good
Does your child excel in math, but struggles to complete his essay? When you focus on weaknesses, you are only discouraging your child from trying more. Instead, adopt positive reinforcements, even when there aren't many positive grades.
Focusing on good boosts your child's confidence, reduces anxiety, and might help him overcome current academic issues.
Never Value Child According to The Grades
Whatever grades your child has been receiving lately, keep in mind that the grades don't define him. If he is still helping you with chores, reward it. Also, never try to blackmail or force a child to study, as it can be counterproductive.
Have you tried any of the tips from the list? Were they successful?
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