How to Motivate Your Child to Learn

For children to succeed in school, they need to have a certain level of motivation. This is, of course, easier said than done, but I have teamed up with a girls’ school in Amersham to share some tips on things parents can do to help. After all, you are in a unique position to inspire and support your child with their overall progression.

Talk About School

Try and find opportunities to talk to your child about school, as this will show them that you have a genuine interest. Mix up your questions so that the conversation doesn’t become predictable and mundane. Here are some examples of things you could ask:

• What was your favourite and least favourite lesson today? Why?
• Who did you sit next to in English/History/Spanish? What are they like?
• What did you learn about in Science/Geography/Maths today?
• Is there anything happening at school that you’d like to be involved with?
• Who is your favourite teacher? Why?

Praise and Reward Your Child

If you notice your child is working really hard on exam revision or a homework project, be sure to praise them and potentially even give them a reward. This can act as an incentive for your child because they will learn to associate their efforts with something pleasant in return. Praising their effort rather than the end result is also a good idea because it will motivate your child, regardless of the outcome.

Be a Positive Role Model

Does your child ever see you catching up on some emails after hours, or even just nestled into a good book? If you do these things in front of your child, they will start to see how much you value hard work and learning, and they will therefore feel more inclined to work hard as well.  You don’t have to be their only role model though – try and surround them with lots of positive influences and success stories.

Make Learning Fun

Try and find ways to incorporate learning activities into your evenings and weekends, but make sure they are fun. This will show your child that learning doesn’t have to happen in a boring classroom, it can happen anywhere and can even be enjoyable. Perhaps you could do some science experiments together or plant some seeds in the garden. Even board games can be educational if you choose wisely, helping children with their vocabulary or numeracy skills.

Collaboration.