Extrinsic motivation has to do with external rewards like prizes, money or candy. Intrinsic motivation happens on the inside; it’s the feeling of pride or accomplishment that comes from achieving a goal.

To keep your child motivated at school, try focusing less on the extrinsic (which may cause her to over-value material rewards) and more on the intrinsic.

Here’s how:

• Praise her efforts. Tell her that you appreciate her hard work. Not only will it make her feel good, it’ll also remind her that you value her effort, not simply her achievement.

• Don’t compare her to others. If she doesn’t do as well as her sister did, keep your comments to yourself. A feeling of “not quite measuring up” can squash a child’s motivation.

Copyright © Parent Institute