We all find it hard to maintain our motivation levels at times, especially when doing something difficult like learning a new skill. Children often need a lot of encouragement and support when learning to help them achieve their milestones. Of course, individual personality plays a part in how eager they will be to learn, but there is a lot we can do as parents to help them stay engaged. Here a senior school in Hertfordshire explores some of the ways you can motivate your child to learn.
Adapt learning
Children learn in different ways, as do adults. Some are visual learners who prefer to see ideas in action, others are auditory learners who would rather hear what they’re learning. There are also kinesthetic learners who like to learn through moving and doing. Your child might even be a mixture of these. Getting to know your child’s individual learning style will allow you to help them learn in a way they understand and which feels comfortable for them, in turn helping to maintain their motivation levels.
Celebrate achievements
Of course the focus should always be on the learning journey rather than just the outcome, but providing some incentives or rewards for learning can help motivate children. You don’t just have to praise them when they get a good test result though; even small achievements like completing a homework project or finally managing to do something they’ve been finding difficult should be celebrated to maintain your child’s motivation to continue learning.
Create plenty of learning opportunities
Learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom. Encourage your child to see the learning environment that’s all around them by asking them questions about things they see, hear or do. Trips to a natural history museum or science museum will help bring their school-based learning to life and cement theoretical topics they’ve learnt about. Even just going for a walk in the woods provides an ideal chance to talk about nature and science, and an opportunity for your child to connect their classroom learning to the real world.
Encourage organisation
Helping your child stay organised with their homework and revision will help them feel motivated to learn. If their papers and projects are disorganised and they don’t know where to find anything, this might make them feel overwhelmed and discourage them from even attempting tasks. It’s also important that your child has a suitable space to learn in, one which is quiet and free from distractions.
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs. Specialising in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and parenting, Debz brings a wealth of hands-on experience to every guide. Her mission at Stereotude is to simplify the modern world for her readers through expert curation and fiercely honest advice.