Keeping Kids Motivated
Watching children learn and grow is one of the greatest gifts of being a parent or educator. From first steps to graduations, there are many milestones that we celebrate in children’s lives. Each of these achievements is preceded by consistent effort and persistence. Sometimes that effort is easeful, and their motivation is intrinsic, as children are eager to learn and keep up with siblings and classmates. Other times, keeping kids on track and motivated to achieve their goals takes external motivation, and guidance from parents, teachers and tutors. Read on to discover four strategies for keeping children motivated, focused, and on track with their learning goals.
1. Set goals
Taking a structured approach to learning helps keep children on track. Start by setting small goals, and celebrating each achievement. Quick wins help to build confidence and establish a sense of accomplishment, in children and adults alike. We know it feels great to tick items off our to-do lists, even if those tasks are mundane. It feels good to achieve even small tasks, especially when you are accountable to someone else. Start setting learning goals for your child, and checking in on their progress. You might choose to keep them accountable by writing weekly goals on a kitchen blackboard, or checking in each evening over dinner. These can be as simple as reading a page or chapter each day, finishing homework each week, getting a high grade in a weekly quiz, or learning new vocabulary.
2. Rewards & praise
No good deed goes unrecognised when it comes to young learners! Every achievement is an opportunity to reinforce good behaviour and success, by celebrating and rewarding the accomplishment. The reward or recognition should align with the achievement, so for completing a daily reading goal you might offer a small reward or heartfelt praise, and for a bigger accomplishment, such as getting a top grade or certificate at school or tutoring, you can offer something special that will motivate the child to achieve their goals.
3. Be supportive
Kids thrive on encouragement and praise. Ensuring they feel supported and secure helps children to feel confident when going into the world, and setting challenging goals for themselves. Having the confidence to try new things, enrol in an extracurricular activity, or take on a tutoring program, is made easier by a supportive environment and safety net. Not every goal will be achieved, but we can set kids up to try, and keep trying, if they feel supported. We need to help children become resilient enough to stay motivated, even when they don’t achieve the outcome they had hoped for.
4. Positive role models & extra help
Building motivation in children can be helped or hindered by the examples they see around them, at home and in the classroom. If your child is struggling to stay on task with their maths homework, help them get motivated by engaging with them, and learning alongside them. If you are not proficient in the study area that they are struggling with, find a role model who can motivate them and support their learning. This might be a family member who is a whizz with mathematics, or an after school tutor who can provide support and guidance, alongside motivation and positive role-modelling. NumberWorks’nWords tutors specialise in maths and English, and act as positive role models and mentors to younger students. The experience of watching an older student take on complex equations and explain them with ease, helps children to see their own potential and motivates them to push past their previous limitations.
To learn more about how NumberWorks’nWords tuition can help motivate students and build resilient learners, get in touch with your nearest centre. Our friendly team and expert tutors make learning fun and rewarding, with a results-based approach, that builds confidence in young learners. Get in touch to book a free assessment today!
