Motivating your kids, how?

Do you find it hard to motivate your kids to get something done? Clean their room? Take out the trash? Do their homework? I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You’re a role model for your children.” It’s true. If you’re not a positive example of what it looks like to be motivated, they will have trouble finding motivation themselves. As such, parents have an essential responsibility to encourage their kids. Here are some tips to help you help them:

Answer the question, “Why?”

You might ask them, why is having a clean room important? Why should you make your bed? Take a shower? Walk the dog? If they understand the why, this helps motivate them to get a task done.

Tell them why it’s important to you and how it helps others. For example, keeping a clean room helps them find something if it has its place, which saves time from being late.

Ask them how they think their actions might impact those people. For example, if their room is not in order and shoes can not be found, this might make them late for someone waiting for them, which shows a lack of respect.

Set expectations early and stick to them.

It is important to set clear and realistic expectations for your child. For example, if you say that he needs to be home by 8 p.m., then he should know precisely what will happen if he’s not home. It could be a phone call or text, just let them know that communication is essential and to stay safe.

You have a right to set rules as a parent, but it does not mean that your children have to follow them all the time or even most of the time. You can explain the consequences and let them decide whether they are willing to accept those consequences or not.

Make them want to be motivated.

Don’t just tell your kids what they should do and expect them to follow through. Instead, inspire them to follow through by ensuring they understand why you’re asking them to do something and how rewarding the task will be for both of you. You can even be creative about this! For example, if your child needs an extra push when it comes time for bedtime, try talking about how fun it’ll be to wake up early on Saturday morning so he can play outside with his friends. Or how much fun it will be to explore in the woods behind your house once everyone else has gone off to work or school. The possibilities here are endless—the key is getting him excited about what’s coming next so that he sees your request as a positive thing rather than another chore he has no interest in doing.

Make them feel good about accomplishing something.

Praise your kids when they do something well, whether helping out around the house or getting an A on a test. When we hear positive things about ourselves, our brain releases dopamine and feels better about ourselves. So if your child gets an A on a test or helps you with some household chores, tell them that you’re proud of them and how much you value their help or effort—the more specific the praise is to what they did, the better!

Could you give them a reason to be motivated?

As a parent, you want your children to grow up and be productive, responsible adults. But how do you get them there? Motivation is critical when it comes to raising kids. Next, I will talk about tips on how to motivate your kids to be successful in life.

Help them set goals.

When your kids are young, it’s crucial to help them set goals. Helping them understand that there are many ways of reaching their goals, and it doesn’t have to take years of hard work. It can even be achieved in small chunks, as long as they’re consistent and dedicated in their efforts. It’s also vital for parents to show their children that they aren’t alone in this journey; when a child feels supported by the surrounding people, they’ll be more likely to persevere when things get challenging or overwhelming.

Be there for them when they need it.

Kids need positive reinforcement to feel good about themselves and what they’re doing. If your child struggles with a task, help them and praise their efforts when completing it successfully. If you find yourself getting frustrated with your kids or having trouble relating to them, ask a friend or family member for advice or get in touch with a family therapist for help—it’s healthy for everyone involved!

Praise their efforts, not their results.

It’s important to remember that children don’t always understand why their efforts are valuable. If you praise their results, they may get frustrated and think: “If I’m not getting the results I want, then why do I need to try?” So instead, focus on praising their effort. They might not be able to recognize how much they have improved if someone praises them for being good at it, but will know if you are proud of how hard they have worked on something.

Change things up.

Make them feel more like they’re accomplishing something.

Have a routine and limit distractions.

Motivation is important for everyone, and kids are no exception.

Motivation is important for everyone, and kids are no exception. If you have children in your life or are planning to have some of your own someday, it’s crucial to understand how motivation works to help them succeed.

Bottom line

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful! Motivation is a tricky thing, but it is possible. Remember that your child is not an adult, so your precious child needs to be treated differently. They won’t sit still for long periods like most adults, so don’t expect them to do so unless they look forward to something. Remember that praise also goes a long way with kids—they thrive off positive reinforcement!

Feel free to comment below on what you thought about this article and any tips that have worked for you to keep your kids motivated so they can grow up to be healthy adults! XOXO Mary