As a child, I was self-motivated. I did my homework on my own. I did the things I needed to do without being reminded. I set goals for myself and achieved them. Maybe this was due to the fact that my parents were mostly uninvolved.
Some kids are self-motivated. And other kids are less motivated and need a little push here or a lot of prodding there. If you’re wondering how to motivate your child, you might automatically think of rewarding your child for every step he takes in the right direction, and applying negative consequences for steps he takes in the wrong direction. In reality, the best approach is to go easy on the rewards and punishments and cultivate his internal motivation—help him to tune into the feelings of accomplishment and the pride he feels for a job well done.
To find out what motivates your child, take a look at these 10 ways to up the motivation:
1. Set Goals.
Have them set goals. Make a list of short-term goals and one of the long-term goals. Make sure the goals are reachable but require effort to obtain. And be sure you’re helping your children choose the right goals.