How To Be A Homework Motivator
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Our kids are way smarter (shrewder) than we give them credit for, and if you’re not careful – you could find yourself doing the work for them, that you should have been helping them to do themselves. From projects to essays, research assignments, and science fair goodies, the list never ends.
We all want our kids to be challenged, but we also want to ensure that they don’t feel ‘left behind’ because they don’t understand a concept or grasp something physical that they might now have a natural aptitude for.
So we’re going to help guide you along the pathway to being a solid source of inspiration – without removing the learning element, and it happens so easily, you don’t even know you’re doing it.
HOMESCHOOL VERSUS TRADITIONAL SCHOOL
First up, it’s important to know that your approach is going to be different when it comes to helping your kids out with homework based on if you’re homeschooling them, or if they’re going to traditional classroom-based schools.
If you’re homeschooling your kids, then you’re kind of working your way through the curriculum with them anyway, and your homework or home testing is more likely to be experiential and “first-person” based than in a classroom, where lessons tend to be more generic and one size fits all.
There are still great resources that you can use anyway, regardless of whether you’re homeschooling or not. Mathematics can be tricky for anyone, but you can use this nifty tool to round to the nearest tenth or other calculations. This speaks to what we mentioned before – not everyone has the same ability or aptitude, so making use of online resources where you can, can aid in your child’s development – instead of having them feel lacking because of something they don’t immediately grasp.
SCHEDULE REGULAR STUDY TIME
Unless you have a child that may be battling with some type of behavioral disorder, just about every child benefits from a set routine, and study time is no different. When we condition our brains towards certain functions at predetermined times, this activates not just muscle-memory, but ‘brain-memory’ too. Make sure that your kids stick to their study time, based on predetermined expectations, that way they’ll know what is expected from them during their time studying. This makes a difference on multiple levels, not least of which teaching them to “scour” data for the information they need in order to complete a task or test.
BE A MOTIVATOR AND A MONITOR
You can still be the fun and cool parent without getting duped into doing your kid’s work for them. Motivating them onwards towards success is easy when you have realistic incentives that you know will activate the parts of their brains that make sense for them – treats, travel, experiences, etc. all fall into this category. In other words, if you achieve this, then you’ll get that.
These incentives don’t have to be elaborate or expensive, our brains love recognition and we love being recognized for achieving something we never thought we could and kids’ brains work the best in this area.
Being a great homework motivator doesn’t mean you have to turn into the wicked witch of the east, you can still help your kids achieve their goals with patience and kindness – without leaving them thinking that they got one over you.
*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.
