How to Motivate Children

Motivation is a driving force that compels a person to do something. As an example you can consider prize a motivation for participating in a contest, good grades a motivation behind study and salary a motivation behind job.

Adults understand their needs and therefore are mostly self-motivated. Unfortunately that is not the same when it comes to most of the children. Some children are self-motivated and they work on their own to achieve their set goals as they know exactly what they want to accomplish. On the other hand, most of the children need external motivation in order to understand what they need and what they need to do in order to achieve it. That is where your role is important.

Set realistic and achievable goals for your children keeping in mind their capabilities. It boosts their self-esteem when children work hard and in the end achieve the goals. The goals should be of such a nature that they do require effort but are not completely unachievable for children’s level. The sense of achieving goals allows children to be happy as it is a reward in itself.  Setting inappropriate goals can ruin your child’s self-esteem and motivation to struggle in future. The goals you make for the sake of motivation must be short term goals that allow children to enjoy their achievement from time to time.

Children seek constant parental attention and appraisal for whatever they do. They learn through parents and other people’s reactions that an action is desirable or not. You should appreciate them whenever they achieve something. You may not feel like they have done a big thing like making a painting or doing homework themselves but these things matter to children a lot. Don’t take them for granted. You must also praise them in public and punish them in private so that it does not make them feel embarrassed.

Devoting your time and hard work to earn for the bright future of your children is important but you need to make sure that in the era where both parents work your children must not feel left out and completely neglected as they require your attention. Children work hard to achieve a good position in the view of their parents and friends group. You need to pay attention on their activities and show interest to motivate them to work harder.

Although the above mentioned ways are the best ways to motivate your children there are some other methods that work like an icing on the cake to boost your children’s self-esteem. These methods include positive approach to their failures, recognizing and allowing them to pursue their interests, good scheduling and activity workshops.