Without the right level of motivation, your child will struggle to stay on track at school. As a parent, it’s up to you to encourage your child and support them with their academic progress to ensure they perform well. Of course, this is easier said than done, so here are some tips from an independent school in Enfield on how you can motivate your child to learn.
Talk About School
Try and show your child that you are genuinely interested in their education by asking them a variety of open-ended questions each day after school. Here are some suggestions:
- What was your favourite lesson today? Why?
- What was your least favourite lesson today? Why?
- Who did you sit next to in English/Geography/French?
- What did you do during your lunch break today?
The trick is to ask questions that require more than a one-word answer. Engaging in these types of conversations shows your child that you truly care about how they’re getting on at school, which will potentially motivate them to try harder. Motivating your child is a full-time job, not just something you can do in short bursts every once in a while, so try and keep the conversation about school open and ongoing.
Prioritise their Learning
As well as talking about school, your actions will have a huge impact on how motivated your child will be. So, perhaps you could set up a dedicated space in your house purely for studying so that your child knows how important education is in your family. You could also establish a rule that your child will not be allowed to play video games or watch TV until all homework is complete, to ensure they have their priorities straight.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Your own attitude to your child’s education will greatly impact how they feel about it. With this in mind, try to maintain a positive attitude with regard to school. For instance, if you notice that they are trying really hard on a piece of homework, be sure to praise them. If they don’t get the grade they were hoping for on an exam, don’t be hard on them, but instead remind them that there’s always next time and they can learn from their mistakes. Generally, it’s wise to just be optimistic and upbeat wherever their learning is concerned.
Demonstrate Hard Work
Allow your child to see how hard you work to help instil them with a sense of determination. As with most life lessons, being a good role model is of the utmost importance. If they can learn from a young age that hard work pays off, they are more likely to try their best in order to succeed.
*This is a collaborative post*