Motivating Your Child Article Archive

• Should Kids Be Forced To Finish Activities They've Started?It’s a familiar story: Your child begs to sign up for an activity, then weeks later refuses to go and begs you to let him quit. Our experts offer help in handling this frustrating scenario, as well as tips for preventing it in the future.
• When Motivation Levels Differ: Motivating Your Kids Without Comparing ThemIn many families, one child is self-motivated and directed while the other is not. How should parents help the unmotivated child without drawing comparisons to the independent, self-starting sibling?
• Handwritten Thank-You Notes Offer Many Ways To LearnParents can add humor—and math and history learning—to this task, which is one that most children initially resist.
• 10 Easy Ways Families Can Exercise TogetherTelling kids to “go out and play” doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily get the exercise they need. Pursuing fitness and an active lifestyle as a family, however, shows your child how much you value exercise and fitness, as well as learning new things.
• Parents Can Help Make Report Card Time a Time for LearningWhen your child comes home with a report card, make sure you focus on the right things.
• Help Your Child Set Some Goals for Finishing ProjectsWriting down goals can inspire your child to get started on projects such as a book report.
• Find Out Why Your Preteen Is Procrastinating, Find a SolutionPutting things off until the last minute is an easy habit to fall into.
• Getting organized is the first step toward a successful yearThe amount of work expected in middle school can be daunting to a child.
• Foster Love of Learning With Family Field TripsWant your child to be more curious? Be more interested in the world? Be more motivated to learn?
• Help Your Child Set Achievable, Specific GoalsYour child will be more motivated to do his best if he is working toward a result that is meaningful and important to him.
• Help Your Child Be an Achiever This School YearMiddle school is a time for students to develop strategies that lead to success.
• Encourage Middle Schoolers to Stick With Favorite ActivitiesSometime in middle school, your child may tell you he wants to quit an activity you thought he loved.
• Effort, persistence contribute to success in middle schoolBy the time children get to middle school, they know who the so-called “smart kids” are supposed to be.
• Success Can Be an Effective Motivator for Middle SchoolersSuccessful students remember how good it feels when they achieve a goal.
• Parenting Styles Have Big Impact on A Child’s CreativityAll kids can be creative—not just those deemed “gifted and talented.
• Speak Positively About Your Child’s School ExperienceToo often, talking about your child’s education is like talking about health.
• What Can Parents Do to Help Middle Schoolers Achieve?Contrary to what some might think, children aren’t born achievers.
• Practice Using Encouraging Language With Your StudentRight after winter vacation, and again near the end of the school year, many kids experience a slump and become discouraged and unmotivated. Here's how you can help.
• Use Specific Expectations to Motivate Your Middle SchoolerYour child’s best chances for success happen when expectations are clear and specific.
• Learning activities at home contribute to school successOne way to make reading, writing and other subjects meaningful to your child is to make them part of activities that are special to her.
• Help Your Child Find Ways to Keep Busy Over the SummerKids who don’t have enough to do often do things they shouldn’t, especially when they’re unsupervised, as many are during summer vacation.
• Suggest Activities That Promote Learning During Summer BreakMiddle schoolers can find themselves with too much time on their hands during the summer break.
• Long-Range Plans Can Help Prevent ProcrastinationYour child: “There’s no way I can finish this project by tomorrow!” You: “When was it assigned?
• Show Your Child How to Get The Most From Report CardsThe end of the first marking period is right around the corner.
• Show Your Middle Schooler You Are Interested in SchoolThis is the “Month of the Young Adolescent.
• Motivation that comes from inside boosts school successThere are two kinds of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic.
• Help Your Student Maintain High Hopes for the FutureHaving high hopes helps students do better in school, say researchers.
• These Are the Things Parents Do That Drive Students Crazy!Knowing what children like—and don’t like—is key to having a good relationship with them.
• Help Your Child Get Back On Track With SchoolworkEven students who never had problems in elementary school may seem to struggle in the middle school years.
• Perfectionism Hurts Children's Ability To LearnWe all want children to live up to their potential. But that doesn’t mean they have to be the best at everything.
• Keep Your Child Learning Over The Holiday SeasonTry these fun ideas to keep your child learning over the holidays:
• Help Your Child Deal With Report Cards; Good or BadNo matter how your child’s grades are, you can use the way you talk about her report card to help her do better in school.
• Have Your Child Try These ‘Be’s For ‘A’s on TestsBelieve it or not, taking a test can be enjoyable. That’s the message Peter Kline and Laurence D. Martel offer in School Success.
• Help Children Finish Activities They StartWhen children want to quit taking piano lessons, playing soccer, or participating in some other activity, parents have a fine line to walk.
• It May Not Be Smart To Praise Your Child for Being "Smart"It’s common for parents to praise children for being “smart.”
• Encourage Your Child Not to Quit Outside LessonsAlmost any child who takes piano, ballet or other lessons wants to quit sometimes. And parents get tired of nagging children to practice.
• Success Comes from Effort, Not Merely Ability"Smart is not something you just are.
• Try a Morning Tape to Help Get That Slow-Starter GoingAfter many tears and much morning turmoil, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, single mom Bonnie Edwards invented a fun way to get her eight-year-old ready for school on time: a “portable mom” in the form of a cassette tape.
• Help Your Child Bounce Back From Self-DoubtEven the most positive kids go through stages of self-doubt.
• Try These Tips to Help Your Child Do Better on TestsYou may still have nightmares about having to take a test in school.
• You Can Make Sure Your Child Starts the Year RightYou've bought new pencils and paper for your child. You've checked to see that her shoes still fit. You've showed her where to catch the bus. But there are other important things you can do to make sure your child gets off to a good start this year.
• Offer Your Child Advice for Making Some New FriendsAt the start of school, many children worry about making friends.
• Raise Your Child’s Esteem With a Positive InfluenceChildren with high self-esteem are more confident.
• Success in the Arts Can Lead to Success in School"Every child is an artist," Picasso once wrote.
• Writing, Games & Reading Assist Children in SpellingEven if your child is already a good speller, these ideas from teachers can boost her success in spelling.
• January Means New BeginningJanuary starts the new year.
• These Three ‘R’s Are Key to Your Child’s School SuccessBefore kids can master the three “R”s in school, they need three basic traits: Respect, Responsibility and Resourcefulness.
• Show Your Child School is Important to Your FamilyShowing your child you support education is one of the best ways to inspire her to do her best.
• Give Your Child a Valentine Bag Full of Good BehaviorsKids who tease each other and squabble can bring you to your wits end.
• Make Learning Fun for Your Child With a Scavenger HuntYour child will love learning and the pursuit of knowledge if you have a Learning Scavenger Hunt! Make a list of questions.
• Attitudes About Time Can Affect Kids' MotivationYou probably already know how motivation affects your own work.
• Parents Can Help Children Learn From DisappointmentParents can’t spare children from disappointments in life.
• Teach Your Child to Take Care of, Respect the EarthLewiston, Idaho, reader Sharon Dunn says, “teach your child at an early age to respect the planet.
• Use Positive-Negative-Positive Comments With Your ChildYour child just brought you a draft of a book report.
• Here Are Ways to Help Your Child 'Think I Can' SucceedKids who are successful in school are like the Little Engine That Could. Over and over, they say to themselves, "I think I can, I think I can."
• Teach Your Children How To ‘Assign Themselves’Anyone can do what’s assigned.
• Make a Birdhouse Using Recycled Milk JugsHere’s a fun activity that teaches children about nature.
• Learning to Get Around Can Help Motivate ChildEven eight-year-olds can start to learn how to get around your town or one nearby.
• These Special Days in April Offer Excitement, LearningApril may bring showers .
• How Do You Nurture a Child With a Special Talent?Do you think your child has a world-class talent?
• It’s Not Too Early for Your Child to Think About CareersElementary school is not too early for children to begin to think about a career.
• Rewards Don’t Have to Be Expensive to Be EffectiveChildren love rewards.
• The ‘License Plate Game’ Can Teach Useful SkillsAt one time or another, everyone has probably played the license plate game.
• Recognize What Your Child Has Accomplished This YearChildren put a lot of effort into learning.
• Let Classic Films Spark Your Child’s Summer LearningKids tend to watch more videos and DVD movies in the summer.
• Be Sure to Set Summer Limits On TV ViewingUnless you set careful limits, your child may spend all his extra time this summer plopped in front of the television.
• Summer Car Games Build Children’s Skills, Pass TimeWhether you’re visiting relatives or just going for a drive in the country, summertime may mean a long car trip.
• Get a Great Start to Make Your Child’s Year a SuccessHow you start the school year can determine how well the rest of the year will go.
• Parents Can Boost Their Child’s Inner MotivationRemember when your child first learned to walk?
• Setting goals motivates children to do their bestMaybe he wants to be on the honor roll this year.
• Try motivating your child with a positive attitudeYour child is dragging a bit as she comes to the breakfast table.
• Expect the Best From Your ChildA new school year is a good time for a new beginning.
• Try Creating a School Year Scrapbook From a CalendarMarjorie Miller, a reader from New York, found a great way to motivate her child.
• Let Children Choose Which Of Their ‘Best Work’ to SaveChildren love to keep every paper and picture they have from school.
• Use Positive Pictures to Help Your Child Achieve GoalsChildren who can picture themselves achieving their goals are more likely to do so.
• Use This Secret: Praise Works Best When It's SpecificPraise from parents is important.
• Parents Can Help Children Blossom Into Better WritersParents don’t have to be good writers to help their children develop as writers.
• Help Your Child to Set Goals That Challenge & MotivateYour daughter has decided she wants to sing a solo in the school musical program. Your son has decided he wants to make the honor roll.
• Make Your Child Feel Special When Tough Goals Are MetShe did it! She learned all her multiplication tables.
• Are You Giving Your Children the Four 'A's?When you send your children to school, you expect them to learn the 3 'R's.
• Here's How to Make Children Better WritersTo become good writers, children need lots of practice.
• New Experiences Improve Your Child’s ReadingWhen children read, they bring their experiences to the printed page.
• Parents Play Important Role In Children’s Math SuccessMost of the good jobs in the 21st century will require students to understand higher levels of math.
• Should You Give Children Rewards For Good Grades?Your daughter’s best friend says she’s earning $10 for every A on her report card.
• Show Your Child You Think Learning is Very ImportantChildren are like the rest of us—they do what they think is most important.
• Attendance, Attitude, Achievement Key to School SuccessWhether or not your child earns straight A’s, he can be a winner if he masters these three A’s.
• Non-threatening Methods Can Motivate Your Child to StudyNagging kids to study doesn’t usually work.
• Teach your child how to develop inner motivationAt one time or another, most parents use rewards to motivate their children.
• New Research Says Every Child May Be 'Gifted'A Harvard researcher named Howard Gardner is changing the way educators view "intelligence.
• Principals List Ways Parents Can Help Children at HomeA recent survey of more than 10,000 principals confirms that parents have a key role to play in helping kids learn.
• Recognizing Patterns Helps Your Child LearnLearning to see patterns is an important math skill.
• Children Succeed When Parents Set High ExpectationsParenting experts offer the same advice, whether they’re talking about helping students with math or getting them to stop fighting. “Set high expectations,” they say.
• Try These Great, Kid-Safe Web Sites On the InternetOne of the best ways to keep kids safe on the Internet is to direct them to sites designed especially for them.
• Let Your Child See That You Value LearningParents often tell children how important school is.
• Help Your Child See All That School Can Do to Help HerWhen the excitement of the new school year has worn off for your child she may decide she doesn't like school anymore.
• Encourage Creativity Through Practical Problem SolvingThomas Edison was called "The Wizard of Menlo Park" for his inventions.
• Be positive, realistic when setting your expectationsWhen you expect positive things from your child, you’ll most likely get them. If you expect the worst, you may get that.
• Trying on Success Can Build a Child’s ConfidenceYour daughter has a subject she just doesn’t like.
• Encourage Your Child to Think About Future CareerIt’s not too early for your child to begin thinking about a career.
• Offer Suggestions When Your Child Needs an IdeaShe should be writing her essay, but she’s been staring at the blank sheet of paper for the last hour.
• Give Your Child a Special School Work Survival KitStudents are just like other workers. They need to be adequately “equipped” to do their jobs—both at home and at school.
• Study Says "Effort" Is Key to Success, Not "Ability"A new study says American students believe ability is more important than effort in school success.
• Four Ingredients Make Any Child More SuccessfulKids can be successful without a lot of outside help.
• These Simple Tips Can Help Children Do Better on TestsNo one enjoys taking a test. But some kids do better than others on important exams.
• Research Finds High Achievers Just Work HarderAre some kids just born smarter than others or does it depend on how hard they try?
• Resolutions can give your child a fresh start in the New YearMaking New Year’s resolutions can put your child on track to doing better in the new year—both at home and in school.
• Encourage Curiosity to Fuel Your Child’s ImaginationCurious kids learn more. They ask questions. “I wonder why,” they may say. Then they’ll look in the library or on the Internet to find an answer.
• Be a Cheerleader During Homework TimeWhen children get frustrated with homework, parents often take a “get tough” attitude.
• Everyday Ways To Make Homework MeaningfulEvery time kids sit down to do their homework, they ask the same question: “Why do I have to learn this, anyway?
• Reward Children for Doing Homework Without NaggingLooking for a way to motivate your child to do homework without nagging? Borrow a spinner from a children’s game and create incentives.
• Inspire Your Child With the Story of a HeroThe stories you tell your children can help inspire them to do their very best.