We continue, this month, with discussing strategies to help motivate your child to learn. I am again grateful to Becton Loveless for an excellent article published in Education Corner, from which the advice here is adapted.

For this month we will be looking at a further four tips to boost motivation and to help your child with their learning.

Share your enthusiasm for learning:   Enthusiasm rubs off, especially when it comes to learning new things. If your child sees that you're sincerely enthusiastic about learning, they're likely to become enthusiastic about learning too. Whether it's history, science, reading, writing or even maths, help them see that learning is a journey of exciting new discoveries. Take every opportunity – without being overwhelming or overbearing – to discover new information with them. As your child sees the joy and excitement learning brings to your life, they'll begin to share your enthusiasm for learning new things as well.

Recognise and celebrate achievements:   No matter how small they may be, it's important to recognise and celebrate your child's achievements. This is especially important for primary age school children who require constant positive reinforcement to keep them motivated to learn and challenge themselves to do better. We're not suggesting that you praise mediocrity, but that you offer recognition and celebrate your child's achievements. Finishing a difficult project deserves a special treat; doing well on a maths test could call for a trip to get ice cream. Always use positive reinforcement as your tool to motivate learning with your child.

Focus on strengths:   Focusing on strengths can be difficult when there are so many things your child struggles with, academically. Notwithstanding, focusing on your child's strengths is vital to healthy emotional and academic development and progress. Focusing on your child's strengths is another form of positive reinforcement that will motivate them to keep learning. Conversely, focusing on your child's weaknesses does nothing but cause discouragement, distress, and a lack of desire to learn. Did they fail his maths test? Well then, in addition to getting him a little extra help with his maths, make sure to congratulate him for how well he's doing in science class.

Focus on your child’s interests:   When learning engages children in areas and subjects of interest, learning becomes fun, and children engage in learning. If you really want to help your child to become a good learner, encourage them to explore topics and subjects that fascinate them. If they like dinosaurs, help them find engaging and interesting books and stories about dinosaurs. Then challenge them to identify their five favourite dinosaurs and explain why they chose each one.

Until next month, get motivating ? 

Photos: (Acrea Butterfly and Black Mamba)