Looking for some practical advice to help your children stay focused? You’re in luck because we’ve got some brilliant ideas, from setting goals and establishing rewards to leading by example. Ready to be inspired? Here’s our ultimate list of tips to keep kids motivated and on-task!
Top Tips for Motivating Kids:
- Set goals
- Make a strategy
- Set up a reward system
- Create structure and routines
- Take regular breaks
- Lead by example
- Remain flexible
1. Set goals
Goal-setting plays an incredibly important part in keeping kids motivated and on-task. Setting specific, measurable goals also helps build confidence, work ethic and resilience in children. Work together to set some achievable goals. For example, maybe your child wants to master a particular song on the violin within the month. This gives them something tangible to work towards, and they’ll feel incredible once they’ve achieved it.
2. Make a strategy
A strategy is what helps children actually achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves. Often, this involves breaking the larger goal into smaller pieces. If a child wants to master a song, you might agree on a ten-minute per day practice schedule. Mastering a tricky spellings list or maths area might mean making flashcards or practising a set number of equations each day. It’s helpful to make a calendar or chart to note progress–for kids, this serves as a visual reminder of how far they’ve come!
3. Set up a reward system
The beautiful thing about setting and achieving goals is that there’s a built-in reward system–accomplishing a tough task feels incredibly satisfying! But setting up an external rewards system can be a brilliant way to motivate kids to go the distance.
Rewards can be tied to both short- and long-term goals. Of course, the specifics are up to you and your child. Maybe after the ten minutes of daily practice, a child earns ten minutes of outdoor play or screen time. Or maybe after achieving a big goal, a child receives a new toy or gets to partake in a new experience. Get your child involved in the process–they’re the ones who will know what will motivate them the most!
4. Create structure and routines
Most children thrive with structure and routines. After all, this lets them know what to expect each day. Maintaining a daily routine, with set times for set activities, can help motivate children to do what they need to do, particularly when it comes to chores they don’t enjoy or their least favourite homework subjects. Clocks and timers can be helpful here — if kids know they only have to do their maths homework or help with washing up for fifteen minutes, they’re more likely to just get on with it.
5. Take regular breaks
A vital part of any daily routine should be breaks. Ensure you leave time in your schedule for play, rest, stretching, snacks and water. Even just five or ten minutes of downtime can help a kid return to a task with a fresh mind and renewed motivation.
6. Lead by example
Great leaders often motivate by example — and the same can be true with parents and children. If you’re not feeling particularly inspiring or motivational on any given day, it can be helpful to draw upon famous examples. Child struggling to practice the piano? Spend a few minutes together reading about famous composers from the past. Can’t get excited about science homework? Research some famous astronauts. This is also a great way to sneak in a history lesson!
7. Remain flexible
Finally, it’s vital to remain flexible. Yes, structure and routine are important, but everyone has days when they struggle to accomplish much of anything. Sometimes a break in routine can be exactly what kids (and parents) need. And just like those important mini-breaks throughout the day, a longer break can help everyone return to their work refreshed and ready to achieve great things!
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