Ways to Motivate Your Kids

Many parent struggle with kids who are hard to motivate and don’t listen. Most kids only want to play, have fun, lay around all day because they, of course, don’t understand responsibility. There is a thin line between a caring parent who wants to discipline their kids and a strict parent who doesn’t let them have fun.

With the stress of everyday life, the struggle of making ends meet, and the responsibility of educating your kids, there is no doubt many parents, especially working parents, find it hard to tell when they are being too strict and when they are just protecting them.

Depending on the age of your child, different things might motivate them, but these tips are general and apply to most kids.

Set goals

Even as adults, we need to have something to look forward to, to be motivated. Goal setting is always a good tool to help your kids do their homework, clean their room or complete other tasks assigned to them.

Also, remind them what they will accomplish by completing their tasks. Explain to them that if they study enough, they will get good grades, if they arrange their toys, they will have more space to play in their room, etc.

Reward them

Rewarding is the best and quickest way to motivate people. Kids love rewards also. This teaches them that after they put in an effort, they will be awarded something they enjoy, be that their favorite candy or a toy they have been asking for, for a long time.

One thing to keep in mind with rewarding is to do it sparingly. It is important that kids know that they will not always get rewarded after they do something. Sometimes you just have to complete your homework and not expect something in return.

Talk to them

The most important quality of a parent, and what ultimately makes them a good parent is the ability to talk to their kids in a way that they will listen. Kids have a really short attention span, so keeping them interested is a challenge in itself.

After you talk to them, try to listen. They will usually open up and explain to you why they don’t want to do something, or why they can’t do that.

Find their strongest skills

Every child has a special gift. The differences that make us unique are usually visible from childhood. Try to understand what is that for your child, and encourage that. Seeing your kid’s success is a great feeling. If they see they are doing something right, and you are proud of them, they will continue doing that.

Lead by example

By far one of the best things you can do for your child is to be their role model. If you ask young kids what they wanna become when they grow old, they will usually mention their parent’s profession.

Not only that but, try to be a role model in everyday life, the way you treat people, how you handle stress and responsibilities, etc. Always remember that kids do as they see, not as you tell them to do.

In conclusion, your kids are your greatest responsibility and they should be your priority. If you’re finding it hard to balance work and life maybe try cutting back on work and focusing on your kids. Here are some part-time jobs that are perfect to help you focus on your kids, but not neglect work at the same time.

Bio

Ujëbardha Bekolli, SAHMjobs

Ujëbardha Bekolli is a writer for SAHMjobs. SAHMjobs is a job portal designed to bring together stay at home moms and recruiters. The platform also brings helpful articles in the Blog section regarding mothers who want to return to the workforce.