If you want to encourage your kids to play an instrument then you may feel as though, at times, it’s an uphill battle. You may find that no matter how hard you push, you just can’t keep them motivated and this can be debilitating for you as a parent. If you want to encourage them then you need to evoke positivity and you also need to make sure that their enthusiasm doesn’t fade with time. You need to know that your child is facing a lot of distractions as well, such as video games, television and more. If you want to support them then simply take a look below.

Make it Fun to Practice an Instrument

Children don’t tend to want to do things that aren’t fun. If you can make practice fun, then this will stop the whole thing from becoming boring. Turn learning an instrument into a game, with its series of challenges and activities. If they need to practice a song for a concert then get silly and see if they can play it slow, and then ask them to play it super-fast. Little things like this can keep them engaged and stops them from being bored.  

Celebrate their Accomplishments

Learning an instrument will come with its ups and downs. It will also plateau from time to time. If you want to help them then give them lots of verbal praise. You can also try to take things one step further by charting their success and accomplishments. You can use stickers to mark a good practice session, or you can help them to see how far they have come by recording them. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to give them the support that they need.

Help them To Understand their Gift

It can take a bit of time for a child to grasp the importance of music in this world. You need to be the one to open the door for them. Teach them to appreciate music and help them to grow their passion. You need to help them to have a personal connection to what they are playing, and you also need to give them rewards for trying hard. Allow them to play in front of family and also let them discover their own taste. If you can do this, then you will soon find that things work in your favor.

Let them Do what they Want

There are so many songs out there that your child can learn. Some songs are a staple for individual instruments, but you have to remember that as children get older, they will then start to develop their tastes. You need to try and embrace this and use it to your advantage. Encourage them to play what they like on their instrument and offer them sheet music from the top artists that they follow. Planning a trip to a music shop and showing them all the music that they can learn is also a great way for you to teach them, so be mindful of that if you can. If your child likes to play the guitar then you can even show them the best looper pedal so they can then make the most out of their experience.

Don’t Make It an Obligation for them to Practice

Sure, you want your child to practice, and it is important, but if it seems like a chore to them then they won’t be as likely to engage in it. They may even go as far as dreading practice as well and this is the last thing you want for them. One way for you to work around this would be for you to give them an activity they can do after they have practiced. This could be going for ice cream or watching TV so that if they don’t want to practice, this is okay. That being said, only good things come after practice, so be mindful of that.

Encourage Performances in Front of Family

Having something to work for can be a huge factor when it comes to motivating your child. Having your child participate in a performance or concert gives them a reason to keep on practicing. If they do not have a school performance, then why not encourage them to put on a show for the family at the next BBQ? If you can do this, then you will soon find that you can help them to truly excel.