6 tips to motivating your primary schooler

Find out how to motivate your kids to learn once school starts

It is only normal for some kids to be hit by the ‘school blues’ and feel uninspired after 6 long hours of school.

How do we instill excitement in our children about learning new concepts and expanding their horizons? How can we make sure that they will be jumping out of beds to get to school? Here are some tips to motivate your child to learn!

1. Celebrate victories

Asian parents are notoriously known to be obsessed with nothing but academic excellences. It is very common for Singaporean parents to send their children to a million different enrichment classes. Which begs the question: does this ‘Kiasu’ mentality of obtaining and maintaining high grades actually have a positive impact on your child?

Ease the burden on your child! Nobody likes working with an overbearing parent breathing down their neck! Give them some personal space to grow as an individual, and don’t get too overly involved.

Stop nagging and start complimenting! Try to find opportunities to give your child compliments and rewards as they serve as a huge boost of confidence to their self-esteem. If they get a B+ for the Math test, reward them anyway for their effort! Focus on their strengths and encourage them to do better in their weaker areas. Knowing that their efforts are being noticed and acknowledged makes them feel appreciated and gives the motivation for future improvement.

2. Communicate

Don’t burden your child by constantly probing them about their grades and scores. Sit down with your child and ask them to teach you the things he learned at school that day. Talk WITH them, not TO them. Ask him to share with you the subjects he enjoys learning. By discovering the things he likes, you, as a parent, can discuss more about his likes. Hence, this will make him realize that he is actually having fun learning new things at school!

Your child isn’t the only one learning in this world. You are too! Tell your child about whatever you’ve learned today. Share the interesting articles you read in the newspaper or an interesting quote you read online. Your child will realize that learning is life long and is something we are gifted with every day; it shouldn't be treated as a chore.

3. Be prepared

Isn’t it terrible to start the school mornings off with a child crying her lungs out due to a missing book or sock? That is what we call a bad day. It’s good to plan ahead! Every school night, ensure that your child has everything ready for the next day.

Also, make sure she is not feeling overwhelmed by the school load. To ease your child’s stress of school, help your child organize her assignments and projects to make her feel that she is in control of her work.

We’ve all heard the saying, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". This is absolutely true with children. Allow your child plenty of time for unstructured play, as it’s always stress relieving to have a break after long hours of studying. Your child will walk through the school gates with a clear mind and positive attitude!

4. Freedom of choice

Allow you child to choose a Co-Curriculum Activity (CCA) that they enjoy – be it something in the arts or a sport that they enjoy. By having an after school activity of their choice, your child will have something to look forward to.

Not only do CCAs provide an additional source of motivation to your children, they also account for points off from their final ‘O’ level examination score! Basically, these additional activities provide for a win-win situation!

5. Positive reinforcement

Minimise your usage of negative words such as no, never, can’t and won’t. Instead try encouraging your child to their best. Remind them of the importance of putting their best foot forward – that you will be proud of them as long as they keep trying.

Small actions like these, take a little stress off their tiny shoulders. Plus, they will be more willing to do their best for you – who doesn’t want to make mum and dad proud? They will have more in them to try harder, knowing that they’re parents have their back. You’ll be surprised how dedicated your kids can be when it comes to making you proud of them.

6. Loving reminders

Being a kid has become a whole lot more stressful from the days when we were in school. Sometimes all junior needs, is a little reminder that they’re loved and being thought of.

You can let your child know you’re thinking of them by packing their favourite snacks for lunch or leaving little surprises in their pencil case – remember that quirky pen you saw them looking at that day? When your child knows after a long day at school, they have someone who loves them to come home to – it makes the day a little more bearable.

Written by

Roshni Mahtani

studymotivateLearningprimary school