For parents, it’s important to see our children succeed and we want to support them in every way they can. However, the parental-child relationship can be a tricky balancing act, offering support at certain times and space to learn and grow independently at others. When a child is struggling with motivation at school, it can be hard to know the right approach. Here are seven practical and powerful ways you can help your child in these times.
Get Involved
Getting involved in your child’s school work can increase their motivation in a number of ways. By investing time and attention in your child’s work you’re demonstrating to your child that the work they’re doing is important, and you’re reinforcing their approach to studying because children are always pleased when parents show an interest in what they do.
“This involvement can manifest in many ways, from working through homework together or simply discussing the day at school. Getting your child to open up about school experiences can encourage them to work harder in class” says Isabelle Howell, a psychology writer at Paper Fellows and State of writing.
Talk To The Teacher
If your child appears to be struggling with concentration and motivation then contact with the teacher can provide greater understanding of these struggles and the way you can deal with it as a parent. Engaging with teachers reinforces that you’re a proactive parent, and this can often result in your child receiving more support in class at the moment they need it most.
Emphasize Effort Over Outcome
Traditionally, children are rewarded for good grades or better results – but disconnecting results from the effort a child has invested can often demotivate them when the child feels like their effort isn’t reflected in the outcome of a project. By shifting the emphasis from the outcome or the grade a child receives to the effort they put in, you reward good behavior rather than an arbitrary outcome determined by a teacher. This builds good habits in your child and will encourage them to work harder throughout their school years.
Building Structure
Motivation can often wane in the absence of a good routine, so helping your child to structure their approach to schoolwork can make a huge difference to concentration. Without structure, procrastination and time-wasting behavior can flourish, and this is a surefire way for motivation to be sapped as kids see time slipping away as nothing gets done.
Set time aside after school for homework and demarcate children’s time for leisure, such as outdoor play and computer or TV time. By reinforcing structure your child will be able to concentrate when it counts.
Let Them Learn From Their Mistakes
If you, as a parent, spend too much intervening in your child’s school life then they will become accustomed to an easy ride. “Although it may seem strange, letting your child make some mistakes creates space for a learning experience wherein children take responsibility for their performance and achievement. Find a balance between being actively engaged without overriding a child’s independence in their learning journey” says Albert Mattson, a lifestyle blogger at Boomessays and Lia Help.
Build A Study Space
Finding space in your home that’s devoted to studying can be an excellent way of creating more motivation in your child. If children get used to doing their homework on the sofa with the TV on, or at the dining table surrounded by distractions, it’s inevitable that concentration will slip. Building a study space somewhere in your home where children can devote their attention to their schoolwork will enable them to switch into “study mode” and give their all when it counts.
Find A Mentor
There’s only so much that you, as a parent, can do to involve yourself in your child’s school experience. Sometimes children will start to push back if they perceive a parent as being too involved, and it’s inevitable that at some stage in your child’s development they’ll seek independence from their parents. At times like these it’s valuable to have a mentor from which they can draw help and support – this could be another adult they’re involved with through extracurricular activities, and it’s someone they can turn to for a more neutral perspective that they can trust.
Wrapping Up
You can support your child to do better at school by helping them with motivation and concentration. These seven tips will help your child to develop an independent ability to study, knowing they have your support, care and attention to fall back on. It’s so gratifying when you watch your child thrive. Step in today.
Elizabeth Hines is a writer and editor at UK Writings and Academized. She is also a contributing writer for OX Essays. As a content writer, she writes articles about the latest tech and marketing trends, innovations, and strategies.