Inner Motivation

At one time or another, most parents use rewards to motivate their children.  And there’s no question that rewards systems work.  But when the rewards stop, sometimes the good behavior stops, too.  That’s especially important to remember when it comes to studying.  Researchers have found that students who are only motivated by the desire to get a good grade rarely do more than the minimum they need to get by.  However, when students are motivated by an inner reward, they are likely to stick with a task.  Students with inner motivation learn because they’re curious.  They retain what they learned longer and earn higher grades.

Here’s how to help your child develop this inner motivation:

• Start with his interests:  Before he works on a project, have him think about what he wants to learn.

• Help him see progress as he works on a big task.  Breaking large projects into smaller, more manageable “chunks” helps, too.

• Help your child share what he’s learning.  The dinner table is a great place to facilitate this.

• Give positive feedback, but encourage him to praise himself for a job well done.

SOURCE: “Motivation: What Does the Research Say?” Northwest Regional Laboratory