As children grow older, they have more things to do other than studies. Even when it comes to studies, they have many tasks like homework, assignments and class tests. As soon as we place multiple responsibilities on young students, many start to avoid studying. They make excuses, sulk and even cry at times. Not every child does that. But many of them do.

But study is essential for learning and growth. When you force your children to study, it may have negative effects. Instead, you should motivate the children. So, how to motivate kids to study? Let’s look at some tips below.

1. Increase involvement

Involve yourself in the process with your children’s studies. Help with their homework and answer their questions. Ask them what their favorite subjects are and why. Ask them who their favorite teachers are and what they like about them. Share their joy over new things they learn. This way you may learn how they tick and what keeps them going. You will discover ways to motivate them once you begin to understand them.

2. Find out the underlying reason

If your children are not studying, try to find the reason behind it. Perhaps they have trouble understanding, or they are afraid of the unfamiliar adults teaching them. Perhaps they are fidgety and easily get bored. You can easily look for solutions once you get to know the problem.

3. Plan Together

Don’t order your children and expect them to be follow what you say. They may resent and disobey you. But if your children feel involved, they will make more effort. Talk to your children. Take their suggestions and then create a study plan for them. Make sure the plan includes study time and breaks. Start easy and do not complicate. You may increase the time bit by bit once your children get used to it.

4. Set Small Goals for Your Children

You can start by setting realistic goals. Your children will gain confidence and feel motivated to study more. For instance, ask them to study chapter wise and tackle 1 or 2 subjects only. Then increase step by step. The gains will surprise you!

Also Read : How to Motivate Children to Be Optimistic?

5. Timely Study Breaks

Several studies show that humans can only concentrate for 45 minutes at a time. After that it begins to wander. Keep this in mind and give your children timely study breaks. At first, allow them to take breaks after 30 minutes. Bit by bit increase the time to 45-60 minutes. The breaks should be 5-10 minutes long. Let your children play light physical games at the time. You will observe, they are more motivated to study now.

6. Make it Easy for Them

Along with the study plan, try to make study time easier in other ways too. The Study room should be quiet and well lit. Switch off the TV and other distractions. Ensure that your children have all the materials at hand. This includes correct study books, copies, pens and pencils. If possible, sit with them while they study. Otherwise check on them time to time.

7. Positive Response on Your Part

Give a positive response once your children finish their studies. It does not need to be candy or money. Genuine praise and encouragement works well too. Let them play their favorite games or view TV shows they like. Another way is to give them certain points for each study session. Once they reach a minimum number of points, they can use them for favors. The barter may be for a day out or sleeping late on a Sunday. This way they get to practice delayed gratification.

8. Let Them Make Mistakes

Do not scold or shout at your children if they make mistakes. They are in the learning stage. They are bound to make mistakes. Tell them what they did wrong. Work together on how to correct them. Your children will learn from their mistakes. They will remember it and not repeat. They will also find ways to correct the problems and become better.

9. Reward Effort and Learning Rather Than the Outcome

Let your children know that you value their hard work. Do not just focus on getting high grades. Rote learning is never the answer. Your children should understand their subjects. They should apply logic and reason instead of cramming. Once they start to truly learn they will automatically get good grades.

10. Know About Different Learning Styles

Your children may be bright but avoid studying. Why do they lack motivation? The simple answer may be their learning style is different. Research has found that there are 7 basic learning styles with different combinations too. These are Visual, Verbal, Auditory, Physical, Logical (mathematical), Social and Solitary. Every student learns in a different way. Check online to see what is child’s learning style. Once you get to know what style favors your children, use that type of learning style.

11. Get Extra Help

Think about getting some extra help for your children. Sometimes, what they need is a different approach. The tutors generally know how to deal with children. Tutors employ effective tactics and motivate your children to study. They will also teach them new ways to study and get good grades.

12. Work Together with Their Teachers

Meet with the teachers of your children. They may know the problems your children are facing in school. They may have insight on how to motivate your children to study. You may also tell them about learning issues your children have. This way, you can both work together and find solutions for study improvement.

13. Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Even children get stressed and feel anxiety in today’s world. Take prompt steps if you see signs of stress and anxiety in your children. Spend time with them. Talk with them and find ways to reduce stress. Take them to the park and let them play their favorite games. Encourage them to get a hobby. Enroll them in yoga classes. All these activities will help them manage their emotions and reduce stress.

Also Read : How to use Yoga to Manage Behavior in The Classroom

14. Ensure Physical Activity

Children have a lot of energy. This energy needs an outlet. Otherwise, the children will fidget and not pay attention while studying. Let your children play in the evenings. Take them for walks in the morning. Nudge them towards playing physical sports. Their break time should not be limited to surfing the internet or playing online games. Regular exercise and sports releases endorphins and increases dopamine levels in the brain. These are feel good hormones that bring peace to the mind. Your children will be able to study better in this way.

15. Support Your Children

Be a problem solver for your children. Be their pillar of strength. Talk to them and ask them to share their problems. They should come first to you for help and not some outsider. Never break your children’s trust. In this way they will share their problems and troubles regarding studies. You can find solutions and motivate your children to study.

16. Help Them See the Big Picture

This works on older children and teenagers. They now understand the concept of delayed gratification. But they are at a growing stage and make mistakes. Some may slack or not study much. Remind them gently how studying now will help them in the near future. By studying better, they will join their favorite colleges. They can pick the courses they like. They can get jobs and start earning good money easily. They can achieve early financial independence. These regular reminders can also motivate your children to study.

Conclusion

We hope the tips given above answer the question. Try to create your own methods for motivating your children. After all, they are your children and you know them the most.

As children grow older, they have more things to do other than studies. Even when it comes to studies, they have many tasks like homework, assignments and class tests. As soon as we place multiple responsibilities on young students, many start to avoid studying. They make excuses, sulk and even cry at times. Not every child does that. But many of them do.

But study is essential for learning and growth. When you force your children to study, it may have negative effects. Instead, you should motivate the children. So, how to motivate kids to study? Let’s look at some tips below.

1. Increase involvement

Involve yourself in the process with your children’s studies. Help with their homework and answer their questions. Ask them what their favorite subjects are and why. Ask them who their favorite teachers are and what they like about them. Share their joy over new things they learn. This way you may learn how they tick and what keeps them going. You will discover ways to motivate them once you begin to understand them.

2. Find out the underlying reason

If your children are not studying, try to find the reason behind it. Perhaps they have trouble understanding, or they are afraid of the unfamiliar adults teaching them. Perhaps they are fidgety and easily get bored. You can easily look for solutions once you get to know the problem.

3. Plan Together

Don’t order your children and expect them to be follow what you say. They may resent and disobey you. But if your children feel involved, they will make more effort. Talk to your children. Take their suggestions and then create a study plan for them. Make sure the plan includes study time and breaks. Start easy and do not complicate. You may increase the time bit by bit once your children get used to it.

4. Set Small Goals for Your Children

You can start by setting realistic goals. Your children will gain confidence and feel motivated to study more. For instance, ask them to study chapter wise and tackle 1 or 2 subjects only. Then increase step by step. The gains will surprise you!

Also Read : How to Motivate Children to Be Optimistic?

5. Timely Study Breaks

Several studies show that humans can only concentrate for 45 minutes at a time. After that it begins to wander. Keep this in mind and give your children timely study breaks. At first, allow them to take breaks after 30 minutes. Bit by bit increase the time to 45-60 minutes. The breaks should be 5-10 minutes long. Let your children play light physical games at the time. You will observe, they are more motivated to study now.

6. Make it Easy for Them

Along with the study plan, try to make study time easier in other ways too. The Study room should be quiet and well lit. Switch off the TV and other distractions. Ensure that your children have all the materials at hand. This includes correct study books, copies, pens and pencils. If possible, sit with them while they study. Otherwise check on them time to time.

7. Positive Response on Your Part

Give a positive response once your children finish their studies. It does not need to be candy or money. Genuine praise and encouragement works well too. Let them play their favorite games or view TV shows they like. Another way is to give them certain points for each study session. Once they reach a minimum number of points, they can use them for favors. The barter may be for a day out or sleeping late on a Sunday. This way they get to practice delayed gratification.

8. Let Them Make Mistakes

Do not scold or shout at your children if they make mistakes. They are in the learning stage. They are bound to make mistakes. Tell them what they did wrong. Work together on how to correct them. Your children will learn from their mistakes. They will remember it and not repeat. They will also find ways to correct the problems and become better.

9. Reward Effort and Learning Rather Than the Outcome

Let your children know that you value their hard work. Do not just focus on getting high grades. Rote learning is never the answer. Your children should understand their subjects. They should apply logic and reason instead of cramming. Once they start to truly learn they will automatically get good grades.

10. Know About Different Learning Styles

Your children may be bright but avoid studying. Why do they lack motivation? The simple answer may be their learning style is different. Research has found that there are 7 basic learning styles with different combinations too. These are Visual, Verbal, Auditory, Physical, Logical (mathematical), Social and Solitary. Every student learns in a different way. Check online to see what is child’s learning style. Once you get to know what style favors your children, use that type of learning style.

11. Get Extra Help

Think about getting some extra help for your children. Sometimes, what they need is a different approach. The tutors generally know how to deal with children. Tutors employ effective tactics and motivate your children to study. They will also teach them new ways to study and get good grades.

12. Work Together with Their Teachers

Meet with the teachers of your children. They may know the problems your children are facing in school. They may have insight on how to motivate your children to study. You may also tell them about learning issues your children have. This way, you can both work together and find solutions for study improvement.

13. Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Even children get stressed and feel anxiety in today’s world. Take prompt steps if you see signs of stress and anxiety in your children. Spend time with them. Talk with them and find ways to reduce stress. Take them to the park and let them play their favorite games. Encourage them to get a hobby. Enroll them in yoga classes. All these activities will help them manage their emotions and reduce stress.

Also Read : How to use Yoga to Manage Behavior in The Classroom

14. Ensure Physical Activity

Children have a lot of energy. This energy needs an outlet. Otherwise, the children will fidget and not pay attention while studying. Let your children play in the evenings. Take them for walks in the morning. Nudge them towards playing physical sports. Their break time should not be limited to surfing the internet or playing online games. Regular exercise and sports releases endorphins and increases dopamine levels in the brain. These are feel good hormones that bring peace to the mind. Your children will be able to study better in this way.

15. Support Your Children

Be a problem solver for your children. Be their pillar of strength. Talk to them and ask them to share their problems. They should come first to you for help and not some outsider. Never break your children’s trust. In this way they will share their problems and troubles regarding studies. You can find solutions and motivate your children to study.

16. Help Them See the Big Picture

This works on older children and teenagers. They now understand the concept of delayed gratification. But they are at a growing stage and make mistakes. Some may slack or not study much. Remind them gently how studying now will help them in the near future. By studying better, they will join their favorite colleges. They can pick the courses they like. They can get jobs and start earning good money easily. They can achieve early financial independence. These regular reminders can also motivate your children to study.

Conclusion

We hope the tips given above answer the question. Try to create your own methods for motivating your children. After all, they are your children and you know them the most.