10 Ways To Motivate Your Child To Do Better In School

Your son or daughter is not able to focus much on what is being taught in the classroom? Or your child doesn’t note down the homework properly in the school diary. Or do you often find yourself saying,” My son is intelligent but doesn’t study’? My daughter takes life too easy’ I have to push my child to study; he is so lazy.” The reason is probably your child needs some motivation to focus and perform better in school.

Interesting Tips to Make Study Interesting for Your Kids

I got these 10 tips will help your child focus better and maybe outdo himself/ herself!

1. Effective Communication: Listen to your child. Look out for the clues in your conversation with him/her. Your child should feel uninhibited about sharing whatever happens. For this to happen you have to exercise listening skills. Listen without getting emotional and offering instant advice. Later you can come back to guide on solving any issue (if needed). Listen to your child’s teachers too. Gather all the feedback. Do not react immediately; do not scold your child in front of the teacher and others. Also, do not disrespect the teacher nor talk about the school disrespectfully in front of your child. Take a balanced look and then resolve the issue. Cultivate patience and be non-judgemental. No child wants to be termed lazy or a weakling. If your child is not performing well, there is a reason behind it. It could be a lack of self-esteem or it could be some learning disability; all you need to do is be calm and observant.
2. Set a Routine: From the time he/she wakes up till bedtime, children need routines. There would be variations depending on the day and plans may change but there has to be a routine. Children need structure so routine helps.
3. Help Your Child Maintain Books: Check if the cover needs to be replaced or binding has to be done. Encourage them to personalize their textbooks and notebooks at home purpose labels, stickers, decorative covers (please avoid doing this on classwork notebooks). Clean and personalized books will be the first step to create interest in taking out the books for study. It will also send positive signals to the brain.
4. Select appropriate and attractive notebook/diary for revision: Help your child select the appropriate pens/pencil/ eraser- check for the pressure and strokes for the pen and pencil. The child should feel a sense of pleasure and comfort while using the pen/pencil.
5. Select a Room/Space/Corner for studying: Set up a small study table and chair. If your child is hyperactive, set the table facing an empty wall. Check for lighting and ventilation. The light should be just right for the eyes-not too harsh nor too dull. Yellow light is more beneficial than white light. If your child is right handed then the light has to fall from the left side and vice versa. Keep away distractions. Preferably have a study table away from the TV room or keep the TV turned off during study hours. Gadgets have to be kept away too. A peaceful environment is needed for studying. Hence parents have to ensure this.
6. Dressing-up for Studying: This may sound funny but dressing up in one’s favorite outfit or color changes/motivates one’s mood. I know a little boy who would always wear his superman t-shirt when he had to study.
7. Methods to Use:
   • Chunking: Guide children to divide a big answer into smaller portions or into points. Use graphic organizers to do this. You can create your own graphic organizer. Use the shape of a flower or a tree to write out the points. If you have 6 points use a hexagon and write out the points. For an 8 point answer, you can use a spider diagram- a spider has 8 legs.
   • Use flashcards (for all age groups) to note important points/keywords. Posters of multiplication tables, periodic elements, planets, prime numbers, etc. can be made by both parent and child and put up in the room. Use the computer to design PowerPoint presentations on the topic. Children love to use the computer/laptop. Design such presentations for future revisions. Making bookmarks on a topic will also be interesting.
   • Use mnemonics in learning.
   • Use a highlighter to highlight important words.
   • Write and learn= one-time writing is equal to ten times of oral studying!
   • Follow the Pomodoro technique – it is effective time management and study technique.
   • Concentration- Whenever the mind wanders bring it back with deep breathing or mindfulness. Take breaks in between studying. During the breaks, circle the letter ‘e’ from a paragraph; play an indoor game, maybe a round of chess or scrabble. Get back refreshed to study again.
   • An excellent method is to design quiz, various tests and even set a practice exam paper. This will help children to manage their time and answers.
   • Group study can be organized provided parents supervise the sessions.
8. Techniques to Associate Learning with Objects: For instance, while studying a tough chapter in science, keep a particular toy/ bottle/vase/ even a food item like an apple. Change the object while studying Social science. It is interesting to note that the brain will associate the subject with the object. While in class or in the exam hall if the child is stuck with an answer the object will come to mind and so will the chapter. You could even experiment with the position or location of studying. If the child is sitting facing the wall for science he/she can face a window for English. Of course, this is not suitable if the child is hyperactive or has less attention span.
9. Thrive on Appreciation & Encouragement so give these in plenty to your children: Set up a chart with rows and columns. Mark a red star if they complete their tasks. Once they get a certain number of stars (you can decide the number along with your child) they can be treated to an extra hour of play or entertainment depending on their age. Appreciate and applaud their efforts! Such motivation and encouragement will boost their self- esteem. They will also gain the ability to motivate themselves when they grow bigger.
10. Ensure that your child does the homework and assignments /projects: Till the age of ten, they would need your guidance. After the age of ten, your supervision is important.

Hope these tips are helpful for you all. If you would like to introduce these in your child’s study schedule, comment saying ‘yes’. Don’t forget to share this blog with other parents. So here is to happy studying!