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Motivate Your Child!

How do you motivate your child?

There are few children that are naturally motivated. It is the responsibility of the parent to establish methods and systems to encourage and motivate their children. Children are blank slates and do not understand the importance of setting goals and achieving them. It is important to explain to your child why she has to go to school or why she he has to maintain good grades.

If you want to motivate your child, you must be motivated. Your child must see you involved in something productive and achieving your goals.

Many parents motivate through threats, intimidation and ultimatums. If this is your strategy it’s a sure way to demotivate your child.

Ways a parent can demotivate a child.

Talking down to, in a condescending way to the child

Loses temper very easily and screams at the child

Threatens the child

Compares the child with her friends or cousins

Shows no interest in her efforts

Very critical of the child

Offers no praise, encouragement or reward

Interrupts the child. Doesn’t allow the child to express herself freely

Spanking or treats of spanking

The parent lacks motivation, has not set goals or structure

There are several ways to motivate your child. However, you must understand that this is something you begin very early in the child’s life. You cannot neglect to motivate your child when she is 3 or 5 years old and all of a sudden begin at 9 or 10. You will face resistance from your child.

Ways To Motivate Your Child.

Are you a motivated person? Do you have goals and aspire to them. Remember you are your child’s model. Share with your child your goals and let her know each time you achieve them. You will motivate your child through your example.

Develop structure in your child’s life. Psychologists suggest that children perform better all around when they are part of a structured environment.

Assign short-term goals for your child to attain to. Find an age appropriate goal for each child.

Speak to you child about what she wants to be when she grows up. Begin this discussion at an early age. This instills ambition and goal setting in your child. It allows to begin to set standards and expectations in their minds.

Focus on strengths of your child. Identify them and encourage her to develop them.

Recognize the weaknesses of your child and obtain the necessary help to improve them. Be patient! Avoid screaming or talking down to your child when you know it may be a weakness.

When your child makes a mistake, use it as an opportunity to teach her lessons about life. Do not scream at her. She needs to know she made an error in judgment and teach her how to avoid make that error in the future. Make sure she has a plan for the next time she has to encounter that situation again. Remember it's about teaching and not ridiculing.

Read books to your child. Read inspirational books. Find age appropriate books on what she wants to be when she grows up. When she is able to read, encourage them to read. Take them to the book store to select the books they want to read.

Find an activity for your child to excel in. Encourage them, praise them, support them, and reward them for their efforts and progress.

Seek help when you child needs it. If she needs help with homework, find a tutor. Don't expect miracles from your child. Find them the support they need to excel so frustration doesn't set in.

Stay involved in your child’s schoolwork. The more interest you show is the more interested you child will be. Sit with them if you have the time, even you are just reading a book.

Praise your child for her achievements, no matter how small. Praise her in the presence of your immediate family and extended family. When you make a big deal about her successes, not matter how small, it pumps her up to do it again and makes her aware of your expectations for her.

Pray with your children. Let them pray with you. Show them how to ask for divine guidance in their lives to be able to achieve all their goals.

Remind your children every chance you get of what a special gift they are to you.

Each of the above requires a different approach for each child depending on the personality of the child and the age of the child. If you need help find a parenting coach to assist you or feel free to contact me. You must devise a plan to motivate your child. before it's too late.

You cannot delay. The longer you wait, the older they become and more resistance you will get from your child. At that point it will require much more effort to motivate your child.

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