Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

01-16-2025

Boost Your Child's Inner Motivation

At one time or another, most families use rewards to motivate their children. And there's no question that reward systems work—at least temporarily.

But when the rewards stop, sometimes the desired behavior stops, too. That's especially important to remember when it comes to studying. Researchers have found that students who are motivated only by the desire to get a good grade rarely do more than the minimum they need to get by.

On the other hand, when students are motivated by a feeling inside themselves, they are more likely to stick with a task. Students with inner motivation learn because they're curious and want to know more. They retain what they have learned longer, and they earn higher grades.

To foster an inner motivation to learn:

Discuss your child's interests. Before your student begins work on a project, ask “What do you think it would be interesting to learn from doing this?”
Help your child recognize progress along the way to completing a big task.
Ask your child to share new knowledge with you.
Encourage your child to evaluate schoolwork and take pride in a job well done. You can give positive feedback too, but your child's own assessment will be more motivating.

Brought to you by:

Candler County School District

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