Believe it or not, most kids are very motivated. In fact, they are a lot more motivated than parents realize. For instance; your child is most likely highly motivated when it comes to their favorite music or video game. In fact, when it comes to doing things your kids love, they often get a sudden burst of energy. As well, motivation is generally lowered when a child is pressured. Quite frankly, pressuring your child can actually make things worse.
However, motivating your child does not have to be difficult. In fact, there are many strategies and ways you can motivate your child. One of the most important things to remember is that your child is naturally curious and eager to learn. The secret to motivation is to have school work and home responsibilities pressure-free. In truth, your child will be more motivated and will learn a lot more when their environment is stress-free and fun.
Significant Conversations
One of the most important ways to discover your child’s inherent motivation is to have a significant conversation with them. In fact, you can tap into their natural curiosity and intellect by inviting them to understand why things make sense. Instead of bribery, make everything a life lesson. For example, avoid giving your child a treat for cleaning their room. Instead, comment on how nice it looks and how easy it is to find their toys once it is cleaned.
If your child complains about the requested task, look at the situation from their perspective. For example, they may be tired from swimming lessons. But instead of using the words “must” and “should”, try redirecting the request like “Why don’t you take a rest and after dinner you can clean your room so you can find what you need for your schoolwork?”.
Motivating Kids to do Healthy Things
It seems that kids will often cringe if you mention the words “healthy for you”. One of the hardest motivations is to get your child in the habit of doing healthy things such as brushing their teeth daily. However, the biggest motivator is to make the “habit” fun and exciting. Perhaps you can allow your child to pick a favorite toothbrush or healthy toothpaste. Another great motivator is to allow your child to listen to their favorite song while they brush their teeth (or do other “good for you” chores). A reward chart or stickers may also help your child stay on track.
If your kids are being stubborn about something because they’re afraid, you’ll have to take a different approach to motivation—especially when it comes to what’s best for them. If they’re scared of the dark, meet them halfway by leaving some lights on at night or putting a nightlight in their room. If they fear the dentist, find a dental office which offers family dental services, like All About Smiles Incorporated, with staff that know how to help your child feel at ease during their visit. It’s important that your child knows you value their safety and would never introduce them to a harmful situation—this is why positive motivation is so important when it comes to addressing childhood fears.
Rewards
According to studies, the positive effects of rewards are short lived. Rewards can be great temporary motivators. However, the behavior is reliant on the reward and stops when the reward stops. For example, adults get paid when they work and they will stop working if the payment stops.
Instead, teach your child to do things that make him or her feel good such as fulfillment in a job well done or a recently learned skill. In fact, the newly learned skill will also build accomplishment and a sense of self control.
Accept and Embrace Their Limitations
Most children love doing chores, especially kids between the ages of 3 and 5. If a child loses motivation at a young age, then you may need to change the way you approach asking for things. Always be grateful when a child does what you ask them. It does not have to be perfect or exactly how you want something. Just remember, a child is limited on what they can do. Such as, your child may enjoy folding their small blanket and putting it away. Praise them for a job well done instead of reprimanding them for the way they haphazardly folded the blanket.
Set a Good Example
One of the best ways to motivate a child is by setting a good example. Simply put, if you want your child to keep a clean room then your home should also be clean. In fact, studies show that kids learn best by what they see and not hear. In brief, even stubborn kids can be motivated, especially if you lead by a good example.
