Top 10 Strategies to Motivate Your Child to Learn
As children grow, they have more responsibility for completing their homework and staying on top of their assignments. While some students are motivated to finish their tasks on time, other students find it difficult to get started. Although it is critical for parents to play an active role in ensuring their child completes homework, it is also critical not to force your child to do it—there is a significant difference between forcing and motivating.
Encouraging your child to find motivation in a positive way is essential for developing long-lasting habits. Forcing your child to do homework can make him or her resent study time, making it much more difficult to achieve self-motivation.
Encouraging child to find motivation in a positive way is essential for developing long-lasting habits. Forcing your child to do homework can make him or her resent study time, making it much more difficult to achieve self-motivation.Dr (Prof) R K Suri, top Clinical Psychologist-India and Parenting Coach,top 10 tips or strategies for motivating children to learn are:
1. Make Study Time More Convenient
Make study
time as easy for your child as possible by providing him or her with everything
needed to complete the work:
Find a
quiet, distraction-free area for your child to study.
Food
and drink: It can be difficult for your child
to concentrate on work if he or she is hungry. Give your child a light snack
and plenty of water before a study session to keep him or her focused.
The
proper equipment: Make sure pencils, erasers, calculators,
and other necessary tools are easily accessible so that time is not wasted
looking for them.
Making certain that your child has everything he or she requires results in less resistance and fewer excuses.
2. Make a study plan.
Structure
works well for children, so having a solid study plan in place will help keep
your child on track. Create a plan with your child for completing homework each
night. Involving your child in the process will keep him or her interested (and
more likely to stick to the plan!)
Your strategy should include:
- When
homework is due each day
- How much
time should be devoted to homework?
- How
frequently and for how long should breaks be taken?
- What
activities should be prioritized? (i.e. assignments that are due the soonest)
If your
child is stressed, he or she may struggle to study or even find the motivation
to begin in the first place. Spending time with your child and encouraging
conversations about thoughts and feelings can help him or her cope with stress.
Make sure
your child has enough time to unwind each evening. Discuss stress-relieving
activities to do during study breaks or after homework is completed, such as:
- Taking a
walk
- Music listening
- Coloring
4. Design a Reward System
Create a
reward system with your child so that he or she has something to look forward
to once study time is over—this is the key to staying motivated while studying.
The rewards can be as simple as watching TV after finishing homework or
collecting "points" after each study session to use for something
special.
5. Focusing on performance, concentrating
on learning.
Instead of
focusing solely on grades, celebrate both big and small learning milestones.
This could
be when your child solves a difficult math problem or when he or she completes
the first draught of an essay. When you shift the focus to learning, your child
will find more enjoyment in completing tasks, which will help boost motivation.
6. Encourage your child to set small
goals.
Encourage
your child to set small, attainable study goals based on the tasks that must be
completed. Setting goals provides your child with clear directions for what
needs to be done and boosts confidence when these goals are met. Here are some
examples of study objectives:
- Read one
of the assigned readings.
- For twenty
minutes, go over your notes.
- Complete 5
textbook practice questions.
7. Take a Small Study Breaks
Although
it may be tempting to complete all homework in one sitting, the brain can lose
focus if no breaks are taken (especially for younger students). It is critical
to divide study time into manageable chunks in order to keep your child's mind
fresh and engaged. During a study session, encourage your child to take
appropriate study breaks.
Keep the
following suggestions in mind for a productive study break:
- Use a
timer to alert your child when it is time for a break.
- After
about 30 minutes of work, take a break.
- Maintain
5- to 10-minute breaks.
8. Experiment with Different Techniques
There is
no 'one size fits all' solution for studying—every student learns in a slightly
different way. If your child is studying using a method that does not
correspond to his or her learning style, he or she may become frustrated
because grasping the material becomes much more difficult. Experiment with
various study methods to see what works best for your child.
9. Encourage Physical Activity
Pent-up
energy leads to frustration and makes studying more difficult. Regular exercise
improves overall well-being and reduces stress, making
it easier to complete homework.
Make sure your child gets plenty of physical activity before studying each day. Even a quick walk around the block during a study break is a great way to get the blood flowing to your child's brain and avoid frustration and burnout.
10. Seeking Professional Help or Online
Therapy
Do reach
out to a professional clinical psychologist, or child psychologist and have online
consultation by booking a session to identify key challenges with your child and
yourself.
For
additional assistance connect with the Best Psychologist in India
at TalktoAngel Asia's no 1 online counselling platform and find a “Psychiatrist near me”
and “Psychologist near me”
for your child's issues.
If you are keen to have your child's holistic development encompassing, physical,
social, emotional, and psychological development is in the right direction, seek
online consultation with the best
psychologists who will help you understand the emotional needs of the child,
enable you to understand your needs and limitations better, and holistic
development. You can also meet in the clinic with the best
clinical psychologists & parenting coaches at Psychowellness
Center, a multi-location clinic at Janakpuri, Dwarka, VasantVihar, Gurgaon,
NOIDA, Faridabad, and Delhi NCR.
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Contributed by:- Dr (Prof) R K Suri Clinical
Psychologist & Ms. Shikha
Thakur, Counselling
Psychologist
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