Children are ready to learn-How to keep them motivated

We rarely think about intrinsic motivation. These are our sincere desires, and to explain our condition, one word is enough - “I want”. Children enjoy listening to the music of their favorite band, making something with their own hands, or reading adventure novels because they enjoy doing it.

Extrinsic motivation can be different - from pocket money to grades at school. It boils down to the phrase: "Do this, and you will get this."

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Some parents promise to take their child to the zoo for good studies, others buy gadgets or even pay money. The problem is that it doesn’t work: the student is studying just as badly, and in addition, he is also offended that he did not receive what he was promised!

Teachers are trying to motivate in seemingly more noble ways: they introduce different titles (best student of the month), give indulgences to good students. Most often it happens like this: one and the same child becomes the best student of the month, and a narrow circle of schoolchildren, whose composition never changes, receives relief. Others just feel like failures.

When we say, "Do this and you will get this," the child at first takes the promise with enthusiasm. Along with this, the instinct of self-preservation works for him.

He asks himself: “Why take the risk and take the test yourself? It is better to write off from an excellent student, so it is more reliable. " It turns out that there is a substitution of goals: not study for the sake of knowledge, but study for the sake of receiving an award.

Extrinsic motivation can work great, but only with intrinsic motivation. By itself, she does not move forward, but forces him to "serve the number", to get what you want as soon as possible, cursing what you do for this.



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Small children are ready to learn and do not demand anything for it. They have a highly developed intrinsic motivation: they learn simply because they are interested in it.

Those children who have retained intrinsic motivation learn effectively. And the rest are considered incapable, but they are not. Some students receive solid deuces, but at the same time they prove themselves in other areas.

For example, they know by heart dozens of songs of their favorite artist (but in algebra they cannot remember the multiplication table). Or they avidly read science fiction (while they don't touch classical literature). They are just interested. This is the essence of intrinsic motivation. Rewards destroy intrinsic motivation.

Getting motivated to study again is a long process, and success largely depends on the parents. Adults first of all need to think about the three "S": content, cooperation and freedom of choice.

When a child does not comply with our request, we look for ways to influence his behavior. Start with something else: think about how reasonable your request is. Probably, nothing bad will happen if in physics the child receives not only fours and fives. And children ignore the request “not to make noise” not because they are naughty, but because of the psychological characteristics of their age.

Unfortunately, many parents are not familiar with this word in the context of communication with a child. But the older your children are, the more often you should involve them in cooperation. Discuss, explain, make plans together. Try to talk to your child like an adult. Do not take hostility to the desire of a 15-year-old boy to become an astronaut. Calmly explain why you think this is unrealistic. Perhaps, in your words, the son will find an internal motivation for growth.

The child should feel like a part of the process, then he will be more responsible in solving problems. When he misbehaves, ask him why. You may argue that you already know what the matter is, but try it anyway. Perhaps the answer will surprise you!

It is not easy to correct the inner state of the child, but still work in this direction can bear fruit.

For example, you may not like your daughter's new image, but you have to accept it. In other words, this is not about indulgence, but about understanding.

If you and your child are close enough, just talk first. Ask what he is interested in and what problems arise in his studies. Find a way out of the situation together.

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Often there is no intrinsic motivation, because the child does not understand why he even needs these formulas, endless rules and theorems. It is important to decide what the child wants to do after school. Long conversations with parents, counseling on career guidance, and books for teenagers will help to understand this .

In studying, you need to try to combine the child's sincere interests (intrinsic motivation) with school subjects. This process is individual and requires a lot of attention from the parents.

For example, you can learn English using your favorite movies (there are even entire programs dedicated to cult films). A teenager who loves computer games will certainly be carried away by programming and the sciences associated with it.

To draw out this intrinsic motivation from the child is the task of the tasks. But for sensitive, thinking, sincerely interested parents, this will not be a problem.

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