Parents are always looking for a better way to assist with the
education of their children. To motivate children, parents must first be
motivated to help their children learn. The strategies provided in this
article are a good beginning to ensure that children successfully
navigate the education system.
1. Reading-
Parents should start reading to their children at a very early age.
Reading should be encouraged at all times. Children should have a
library card and visit books stores on a regular schedule. Parents can
have children memorize a poem or a small speech to help keep their mind
sharp and ready for reading.
2. Math-Children
should be taught at a young age that math is a very important subject.
Parents should verbally ask math questions (mental math) with their
children whenever possible. Questions can be addition, subtraction or
multiple computations. Answers should be also verbal. Start with small
math problems. Children should also be allowed to participate in real
life math problems such as: buying articles or food at a store on their
own, weighting fruits and vegetables at the market and measuring things
in the kitchen.
3. Homework- A homework
schedule should be developed for children, including what time to do
homework each day, how much time should be dedicated to homework each
day, and where in the house to do homework. In addition, if the school
doesn't provide a homework assignment on any given day the parent should
develop homework assignments. Reading is always appropriate for
homework.
4. Home Organization- Parents
should organize their home for success by creating a special room with
educational tools available such as: computer, printer, books, pens,
paper, dictionary, newspapers and magazines. In addition, the house
should have book shelves throughout the house with lots of books. The
house should also be organized with educational posters, pictures,
certificates and awards in the appropriate rooms.
5. Parental Involvement-Parents
should be involved with their children's activities throughout their
educational career. Attending parent teacher conferences, talking to
children about their school work, checking school assignments with them,
enrolling them into educational programs after school and during summer
months, reading to and with them and providing lots of encouragements
is a must for all parents.
6. Career Exposure -Whenever
possible, children should be exposed to people working in different
jobs. For example, having children talk with doctors, lawyers, teachers
and other professionals about what they do on their jobs is a good
beginning. Encourage children to read about various careers. Shadowing
friends on their jobs is another excellent way to help children focus
their minds and direct their attention to thinking about their own
future.
7. Allowance- Parents should give
children an allowance on a weekly or biweekly schedule if children
complete all home responsibilities. Responsibilities should include
doing homework everyday, studying, completing all assignments at school
and reading regularly. Parents should also have other home
responsibilities for their children.
8. Time Management-
Parents should work with their children to develop a schedule for
success. The schedule should include everything from what time to get up
in the morning, to what time to go to bed, to what time to eat, what
time to do homework, what time to go to practice, what time to do chores
around the house and the schedule should be written down. Giving
children some kind of planner with a big calendar would help them write
it down and help them become better organized.
9. Encouragement-
When children earn good grades, parents should give them positive
strokes and explain to them how important it is keep good grades. Also,
when students bring home their report cards, they could be placed on the
refrigerator door so the entire family can see the accomplishments and
make additional encouraging statements. This can also be done with tests
and quizzes. Praise your children whenever they do well on any
assignment at school, and display the finish assignment throughout the
house.
10. Educational Trips- Educational
trips to museums, zoo and plays are a good way to expose children to
cultural activities. Parents should spend time with children discussing
what was observed on trips. Family trips out of town could be scheduled
to popular museums to give children deeper insights.
11. Musical Instrument-
All children should learn how to play a musical instrumental. Learning
to play the piano is very popular, but learning to play any instrument
can help children improve their concentration, self- esteem and
confidence. It can also advance student achievement by improving
dexterity in hands, improve reading skills, reinforcing memorization
skills and developing better social skills through interaction with
others.
12. Educational Programs-Enroll
children into educational programs after school and during the summer
months. Programs should have some educational value as well as being
interesting to the participant. Children will improve social skills and
students achievement at the same time.
13. Join Church-Attending
church and Sunday school can help improve a student achievement level
by studying the Bible, giving speeches, learning how to be dedicated,
learning good values, having faith, and learning how to respect life,
etc.:
14. Self Esteem- Develop positive
self-esteem by having children begin the day brushing their teeth and
looking in the mirror to make positive statements about themselves,
their day or their dreams. He/she could make positive statements such
as: I am an outstanding student, or I am the best athlete on the team,
or I will earn an A on my test. Also, have he/she to counteract any
negative statements with positive statements.
15. Reward-
Rewards for children can be a motivator for success. When children are
successful at school, parents should provide small rewards of
appreciation. Parents could cook their child's favorite meal, take them
out to a restaurant, allow them to stay up later, or play video games a
little longer. Parents should decide what they believe is appropriate.
Don't over do it.
16. Be an Example-
Parents should demonstrate how education is important in their home by
reading the newspaper or books around their children. Taking children
with them when they go to purchase books at the book store is a good
example. Parents displaying their degree's or awards in their home is
important to family.
17. Demonstrate Love-
Love should always be a part of the decisions that parents make
concerning their children. Parents should always understand that
improving their child's education is very important, but love is what
will help children to accomplish their goals. Hugging children to show
appreciation and love is important.
18. Goals-The
setting of goals should start at an early age. Parents should start
asking children what their interests in life are at a young age. The
favorite question of some parents is: what do you want to do when you
grow up? Parents can influence children's goals by talking to them about
what their best subjects. Have children to develop short term goals,
such as: I will earn two A's on my next report card. With that goal have
them write a plan on how they will reach that goal. The same thing can
be done with long term goals. Celebrate when children reach goals.
19. Extra Curricula Activities-
Being a part of activities and sports outside of the regular school day
is a good way to keep children sharp and alert for their academic
workload. Children should be a part of some activity that keeps their
interest and keeps them motivated. They should also understand that
academics are first and if their grades are not at a high level, all
activities will stop.
20. High Expectations -
If children know from day one that their parents expect good grades in
school, chances are their grades will be good. Parents should always
tell children what they expect, but be realistic when making these
expectations. The expectations should be attainable and a bit above what
the child thinks of himself or herself, and through encouragement and
consistency, great things can happen! When expectations are developed,
support to make the expected outcome should also be presented. Example;
If parents expect the child to learn how to play the piano in six
months, they must provide a piano teacher, piano and a time to practice
the piano.
Parents probably have the greatest influence on the
success or failure of their children. Parents who get involved and seek
positive strategies are ensuring a successful life for their family. The
strategies listed above is a sample of the many ways parents can
utilize to motivate their children for success at school and in life.