Ways to Motivate the Young Child
Parents are always anxious to have their child motivated to learn and anxious to achieve, but are often unsure of how to accomplish this.
Here are some ways to accomplish this:
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Set the bar realistically for your child- When you expect your child to succeed, they will. Create goals for accomplishment. Allow your child to do things independently, but be there when they need you. Don’t allow them to get away with doing to bare minimum, but don’t expect the impossible of them, either.
- Take small steps- Achievement does not happen over night. Encourage your child at each stage of learning and let them know that you are proud of them.
- Don’t overreact- Children make mistakes, just as adults do. Don’t allow them to think you are disappointed when expectations fall short. Instead, look to find ways to correct it. Children need to know their parents are on their side.
- Communicate- Encourage young children to ask questions. Allow them to feel they can come to you for help. Sometime the young learner wants to be independent and do it on their own. Ask questions about what your child is learning in school. Encourage them to talk about their likes and dislikes in school. Keep current on all areas of the curriculum.
- Finally, be prepared to ask for help. If your child is experiencing ongoing difficulties, ask for help. Usually, the classroom teacher can point you in the right direction. He/she can tell you how your child is progressing in the classroom and where they need reinforcement. Finally, accept that it is very difficult to work with your own child in an area where they are having ongoing difficulty. At this time it might be worth looking for an experienced person for help.
Feel free to contact me in the Learning Center if you have any questions.
Mrs. Carol Komarnicki