I Need Motivation Theories

I have two children and even though I love them

to bits, I have to say that at times they need

motivating to do their homework or to help out

around the house, for example. This article

describes how I go about this child motivation.

The methods have helped my own children no end

and I am sure they could help other parents in a

similar situation.

I remember when I met my step-daughter who is

called Taryn. She was five years of age and

quite a character. I felt a bit sorry for her

however as she spent a lot of time at a

childminders. The childminder would take her and

pick her up from school. On some days her mother

would not be able to collect her until around

8pm.

After a few months of dating her mother, I

offered to help out by stating that I could take

Taryn to school and pick her up. Taryn said that

she wanted me to do this and it was all agreed.

Up to this point Taryn had never really been

made to do her homework, either by her mother

who was very busy and often tired or by the

childminder.

When we arrived home from school on the first

day of me picking her up, I asked Taryn if she

had any homework. She passed me her reading

folder. In the folder was a book which she was

supposed to read. Come on then Taryn lets read

this book together, I said. I don't do homework,

Taryn replied. I stated to her that that was the

past and that from now on she would be doing it.

Taryn had a bit of strop and started to cry.

Your not my dad, you can not make me do it, she

continued. I basically had to be very strong and

made her read the book. There were a number of

words which she could not read and I wrote them

on a list. We then spent around ten minutes

where I attempted to teach her the words. She

found all of this very boring.

I then told her that we would now play a game,

which is called the mouthing game. She would

pick a word from the list and just mouth the

word without making a sound. If I could guess

what she had mouthed, she would get a point and

then it would be my turn.

Taryn really enjoyed this game and on the way

home from school on the next day, she asked if

we could play the game again. Of course we can

but we need to read the book first, I said.

Taryn replied that this was fine. This is one

example of many games we play when doing

homework or any other task which the children

see as mundane.

I also compliment both children and tell them

how much I love and am proud of them at regular

intervals. I give them rewards when they have a

good school report and encourage them to always

give things ago even if they believe that they

might fail in the specific task. In my opinion

there is no such thing as failure if you have

tried your best.

Published At: http://www.isnare.com