As every parent knows all too well, keeping your kids motivated can be a challenge. Indeed, this has been a struggle for parents for generation after generation. Every parent has their own secret, be it motivational prizes, inspirational quotes for kids, or non-stop cajoling. Thankfully, no parent has to fly in the dark, and there are many ways to help keep your kids motivated. Here are a few suggestions on ways to do just that.
Set Goals
Screaming “Work harder!” isn’t necessarily the best way to get your children to, in fact, work harder. Thankfully, there are better ways to motivate your kids, including by setting specific, exact goals. Let’s say you want your child to read more. Don’t tell them to just “read.” Instead, have them read a chapter a day. When they complete the book, make sure to reward them in some small way. Additionally, don’t just track the goal – create a visual representation of their goal, like a fundraising chart. If you think it would further motivate your child, have them actually check off goals day after day. This can make them feel even more engaged in the process of reaching their goals and create a visual representation of their progress.
Set Up A Competition
Kids – like adults – are motivated by competitions, prizes, and the chance to show off their skills. And while setting up competitions among siblings can lead to disasters, there are likely kid-safe competitions you can take advantage of. Working with a teacher or your child’s class, find out if you can set up a competition in a group, and see what prizes can be given to the winner or top finishers. Short of this, work with your child’s social group and see if it’s not possible to arrange for a competition among that group. This can be tricky – but it can also help to motivate your kid. Just be cautious to set up appropriate limitations and make sure that no one cheats!
Take Interest
At the end of the day, few things can motivate children like interest from their parents or loved ones. Obviously, this one is on you. Take an interest in whatever the activity is, be it school work, reading, reduced screen time, or more. See what you can do with your child. For example, if you are trying to get your kid to read more, read with them. Ask them questions about whatever the activity is, and actively engage with them on it. This will make your child feel more motivated as if the work that they do matters not only to themselves but to you. This, in turn, can help to spur additional work.
These are three great ways that work well, but they are not the only way. Each parent has their own “secret sauce” that works well, but you should absolutely do additional research in order to find what works best for you.