Some ways to motivate children to love school life
Every parent wants their kid to love school and learning. Boredom can arise when kids don't see the relevance of schoolwork. That's when parents can bring personal experience into the mix. "Building up personal relevance, connecting to prior knowledge, is profoundly useful to prevent the amygdala blockade," says Dr. Willis, author of How Your Child Learns Best. There are ways for parents to help kids build a positive connection to school, and here are just a few ways parents can encourage kids to put in more effort at school.
Show your kids that you care about their schoolwork.
Start by showing kids that you care about their schoolwork. Check-in with them about how classes are going. Let them know that you're there if they need homework help. Ask what they're learning about the assignments and what they like (and don't like). With older kids, be sure to give them space, too. They might feel resentful and less motivated if they sense that you're pressuring them.
Use positive reinforcement
Using positive reinforcement helps. You don't need to give kids big rewards, but even small ones like a high five or a few extra minutes of screen time can make a difference. It's also important to praise effort, not results. For example, praise your child for finishing a tough assignment or taking a class that might be hard. Nobody always gets top grades, so make sure your child knows you don't expect perfection.
You can also bring in reinforcements if schoolwork is becoming a source of conflict for you and your child. You could hire an older student at your child's school or a nearby college to help monitor homework and ease stress on the family. Talking to your child's teacher can also give you insight into their behavior and help you work as a team to encourage them.
Try Not to Push
Frustration can affect the amygdala in the same way as boredom, but this can also go deeper. When kids begin to struggle, parents need to recognize if their child is drifting into meltdown territory. When the frustration overwhelms, experts say taking a break or even calling it quits for the night is best. "It's better to preserve a good parent-child relationship," says Musoff. "There's nothing good to be gained by pushing when a child is in a worked-up state."
Focus on Their Environment
Parents can limit homework stress by crafting reliable family routines, ensuring kids have the time to complete their learning tasks. Beyond a schedule, notice which kind of environment your child prefers for completing homework. Perhaps the child wants a parent nearby. Perhaps they wish to study alone. Either way, researchers say allowing kids as much choice as possible is best.
Keep tabs on your feelings.
Finally, be sure to keep tabs on your feelings. If you're getting very frustrated or angry about your child's school performance, a therapist or support group can help.
