.
I've been thinking a lot about motivation lately. Why do we do the things we do? Why do we persist when things get difficult? Why do we give up when we know we should continue? I know for me, I'll seldom do something just because it's good for me, if that's the only reason. It has to fit into something else: tastes good, feels good, makes me look good :), helps my family, helps my friends...
So how does this work for kids and reading? I did some research this week and found some wonderful resources. I'll pass on some of what I've learned and then continue in a later post.
Consider this. If your child absolutely doesn't want to read, even if you've tried all sorts of fun enticement [see previous Parent Posts for ideas], consider forgetting the reading. Yes, forgetting it, at least for now. Try finding out your child's passions and/or sparking some new ones.
.
A quick story: My friend's son, Brendan, was a struggling reader and pretty sad about his life. When it was time for his 9th birthday, my friend asked for birthday present suggestions. I suggested lessons of some sort. Brendon chose horseback riding. It changed his life. Brendan took to riding immediately, even though he was quite klutzy in most things. Riding became his passion and he became happier about life. Did he suddenly become a better reader? No,but his happiness helped him become more persistent in all parts of his life.
.
This brings me to the number one point of this blog:
.
Motivation comes from passion.
.
Ronit Baras, a Parenting Guru and Happiness Coach, says this on her website http://www.ronitbaras.com/emotional-intelligence/personal-development-c/motivating-kids-1/:
.
If you want to motivate your kids, the first thing you need to do is know what your kids want. The only way to know that is to ask. Many parents think they know what their kids want, but never ask. Some say they are too young, some say they do not know what they want and some are afraid their kids are too influenced by others, but the truth is your kids' desires are a key ingredient in their success in life, whether or not they are young, confused or highly influenced.
.
I hope you will check out her site. It has much to offer, including 19 posts just about motivation!
.
Another site to look at is Teach Kids How http://www.teachkidshow.com/how-to-teach-your-child-about-motivation/
This site breaks down motivation by age groups and offers suggestions to consider. Some highlights:
- Preschool: Very young children often ask “Why?” Your explanations will help them understand the motivation behind actions and decisions.
- K-Grade 3: The need to please and be noticed- heard and seen- is strong at this age. Viewing behavior, both positive and negative from this perspective will help you and your child understand why they do what they do.
- Grades 4-6: Experiencing success is highly motivating. A child who learns in a natural environment, employing their creativity is learning to take risks and try new things. Dealing with failure and persisting until successful motivates further exploration.
The site also offers resources for motivating.
.
So what motivates you? Pondering this question may help you understand where your child is coming from. Please write your thoughts about motivation in the Comments box!
Gail
No comments:
Post a Comment