This article is part of the following topics:   Motivating Your Child Setting Expectations

Children Succeed When Parents Set High Expectations

Here are tips on how to set high expectations for your child:

1. Describe, as clearly as you can, the behavior you want to see from your child. “I want you and your brother to settle disagreements without yelling.” “I want you to raise your math grade.”

2. Make sure expectations are both reasonable and achievable. A student who has earned all “C”s is probably not going to make the straight-A honor roll in six weeks.

3. Make sure your child agrees that the expectation is both reasonable and achievable.

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4. Set short-term goals. Help your child set a goal that both of you know he can achieve. Then set another.

5. Praise effort. If your child is really trying, let her know you notice—even if she doesn’t meet all your expectations.

6. Be willing to reconsider and adjust if the goal seems out of reach. If a goal is not unreasonable and your child is making a serious effort to change, there may be other explanations for why your child is having trouble.

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