Most parents find it difficult to engage their kids to do their homework and study attentively. Some kids are reluctant to do their homework and some others claim that they don't have homework. But when the report card comes out, everything becomes clear to parents. If you face this problem, don’t be frustrated, angry, and exhausted. We are here with some proven tips on how to motivate your child to study and do homework.
What are the most common reasons kids don't want to study?
Before motivating your child to study and do homework, you should first understand the root cause of the problem.
The following are some common causes of a lack of motivation:
- Lack of interest in school work or a subject
- Low self-esteem
- Bullying at school or home
- Depression
- Poor grades in school
- Excessive pressure from parents and teachers.
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13 ways to encourage your child to study, do homework
Make it Fun
Encourage them to complete your homework by making it enjoyable! Teachers have discovered that doing homework with amusement is the most effective method to motivate students to complete it. The trick is to find out the student's passions and then apply their interests to provide the basis to help them with their homework. For example, if the student is passionate about sports, maybe you can assign them a task where they make their team and also write about it.
Offer a Reward
Another best way to motivate the child to study is to provide a good incentive. A good reward can be an outing with the family or a film night. Some prizes may be better suited for youngsters, like an exciting new video game or toy. Rewards work best to make them regular and prompt.
Be Consistent
Keep supporting your child's efforts to perform well in school. It is crucial to consistently support your child's endeavors at school. Your constant assistance will make them feel more secure and inspired to succeed in school.
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Be Present
Keep them in your presence when they're at school or working on an assignment. The most important thing you can do is to remain present and not get distracted by other activities. If you're in the moment and can assist your child with their work or assignments, they will feel more confident about themselves.
Create A Study Plan Together
A child thrives with structure. Having a proper study plan can help to keep your child focused. Sit with your child and develop an outline of how they will complete their homework every evening.
Your plan should contain:
-What amount of time needs to be spent on homework?
-How often should breaks be taken, and how long?
-Which tasks should be given priority.
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Make Study Time Easier
Make studying as simple as you can by providing them with everything they need to finish work:
-A quiet space: Find an area that is quiet and free of distractions for your child to work in.
-Drinks and food: A child cannot concentrate on the task with an empty stomach. Offer your child small snacks before studying and drink plenty of water to stay focused.
-The best instruments: Make sure that pencils, an eraser, a calculator, and other essential tools are readily available, so you don't have to locate them.
Achieving that your child has everything he or she requires will mean fewer fights and excuses.
Distractions
Today, the primary distractions for students are likely their devices on the internet, such as mobile phones. Studies have shown that schools that have banned mobile phones saw an impressive increase in students' academic performance. Thus, while your child is doing homework, you should try to take the electronics from their room. This will allow them to complete their work more quickly and better.
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Help your child organize their time
The quality of organizing anything is an essential nature your child needs to develop and learn. If they are assigned various tasks to accomplish, take them to a table and inquire about the most efficient method of splitting your hours. Offer suggestions if there's a better way to do it. Outline and assist them in adhering to it to complete their duties.
Growth mindset
When it comes to homework, You may hear your child say "I don't know how to do this" as well as "I can't do this". This kind of thinking is called fixed thinking and implies that their skills are fixed in stone.
The opposite, also known as the growth mentality, is based on the idea that you can improve your ability, intelligence and performance. As a parent you must inspire your child to build a growth mindset. Inspire them that they can achieve what they desire with a little additional time and effort.
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Be a role model
Let your child observe you working on tasks that they need to do, for example, creating grocery lists or discussing what you've completed at work during the day. If your child sees that you are also doing things, it will encourage your child to complete homework too.
Focus on learning instead of performance
Instead of focusing on the grades, focus on the achievements of learning, both big and small. Praise your child when he or she can solve an intricate math problem or after he or she is finished writing the initial outline or essay. If you shift the focus to studying, the child will have more fun doing work, increasing motivation.
Encourage your child to set small goals
Instruct your children to establish small, manageable goals for their studies in line with what must be achieved. Setting goals provides your child with a clear direction of what they need to accomplish and increases confidence when they complete the objectives.
Examples of goals for studying are:
-Complete one chapter of the reading assigned
-Notes on review for 20 minutes
-Take 5 practice questions from the text.
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Take proper study breaks
The brain of children may become distracted and lose focus without interruptions. Breaking down studies into manageable pieces is crucial to keep your child's mind sharp and active. Make sure your child takes regular breaks during study.
What is the Best Strategy for Motivating Kids?
The best strategy for motivating kids is to give them the right amount of autonomy. This will make the child feel like they are in control of their own destiny and more motivated to do what you want them to do.
Here are some ways that parents can give their children more autonomy:
- Give them the freedom to choose their clothes in the morning
- Help them to choose what they want for dinner
- Let them decide when they want to go to bed.
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Bottom Line
Children are naturally stubborn. They like to play instead of sitting down in a space and doing homework. If your child is not willing to study or complete homework, you need to deal with this problem with patience. So far, we have discussed several ways to motivate your child to study, and complete homework. Incorporating these suggestions into your daily routine can make the learning process go faster. This will support your child's academic growth.