Children who learn in a controlled setting at home frequently behave similarly to children who attend school. They become irritable and disobedient when they are bored or exhausted.
The misconception of homeschooling that every kid must learn a specific body of knowledge at a specific age or grade is the problem, not the child.
Here are the 10 best things parents need to know about homeschooling .
Be sure to address the situation if your child is displaying signs of diminished motivation. Read on to know how to motivate your homeschooling child.
Contents
Why Motivate Your Homeschooler?
Motivating your homeschooler ensures that he enjoys learning, makes school progress, and is able to become independent.
Home learners sometimes get lost in an organized structure or have no one to interact with because they lack the school environment.
Motivation keeps them interested and curious, and driven to work for their goals. It also encourages self discipline which is important when students control their learning pace and workload.
In addition, motivation creates confidence, burnout level decreases, and learning becomes more interesting for both the student and parent.
Motivation leads children toward taking initiatives, topics and a lifelong learning as passion are the major goals of homeschooling.
How to Motivate Your Homeschooled child?
1. Stay Optimistic
A bad setting is one of the many challenges faced by homeschoolers . Therefore, do not punish your child if he has not finished his task.
Use positive reinforcement instead, since it may promote a better environment and a general enjoyment of learning.
When he completes an assignment, give them a compliment rather than a timeout or loss of free time. Give him praise for a job well done and encouragement if he is having a hard time.
Every human being needs affirmation. Give it frequently and observe how your child’s eyes light up and the drive rises.
2. Be Sympathetic
Occasionally, letting your kid know that you are aware of his feelings might help him get through trying circumstances.
You may show your children that you are aware of the problem and that you understand their troubles by using phrases like “I realise you’re having trouble focusing right now” and “I notice that you’re having a tough time starting your project.”
3. Get Outside
Take a break and go outside if your child struggles to focus and lacks drive. Running, leaping, or walking for ten to fifteen minutes will help them get rid of surplus energy and improve their focus.
You can also create fun learning activities at home to encourage your child.
4. Give Rewards
While little toys, prize boxes, and other special rewards for finishing work are enjoyed by younger children, it’s important to use these rewards wisely.
Make sure to move away from material rewards like prizes as your younger kids get older and truly concentrate on their sense of drive.
Do think about rewarding good behaviour at the end of the week or a few times each month with family vacation and special adventures.
Read this blog and learn the ways to make your family vacation worthwhile
5. Change the Location
Everybody benefits in homeschooling from occasional landscape changes. Take your child to a nearby library, coffee shop, or picnic table in the park for their homework’s.
Occasionally, a change in scenery and environment is refreshing.
6. Observe Development
Nothing inspires a child more than looking at his achievements and growth. Plan a time to review some of their previous work if they are having trouble.
Highlight their accomplishments, abilities, and development while praising their efforts. Talking about success in the future will motivate your child to generate high-quality work in the future.
Here are a few things to look forward to and keep in mind to pick the right online homeschool program .
7. Let Them Earn More Freedom
Providing a child who is homeschooled more freedom is one of the most effective ways to encourage someone. However, there is a fee they need to pay to receive the freedom. They have to earn it by doing their chores or by being obedient.
This might be referred to as giving them some control over their schedule. This can be done by picking which subjects they wish to cover, or time earned for activities they like.
Providing children with an opportunity to earn freedom helps them to see that work and responsibility are what eventually bring more freeness. It creates a sense of achievement and ownership of their learning thus raising their intrinsic motivation.
8. Motivate Your Child With Their Currency
Each child has his or her own “currency.” Something they want: more screen time, some special treat, an outing to something they choose. It is possible to stimulate them with this currency as a system of reward.
Upon the completion of any learning task or positive attitude reward them with something they take pleasure in. Not only is this more fun for them to learn, it helps them understand the sense of effort being rewarded.
Make sure to involve your child in setting these goals, so that they feel some control over the process.
9. Positive Feedback
Positive feedback is probably the strongest motivator for any child, particularly under homeschooling conditions. When your child succeeds, reward the efforts, not just the outcome.
It takes nothing more than attention and care to recognize their hard work, persistence and creativity. Positive reinforcement increases self-esteem and increases effort.
You can use common affirmations such as “You did a great job organizing your project”, or “I love how you tackled that difficult math problem”. This can take you a long way in making your child feel valued and enabling him/her to continue.
10. Invite Friends Over
Social interaction is very important in a child’s overall development and motivation too. Plan a get together of friends or classmates for group study or for working on online group projects.
In addition, not only does it help to break the monotony, but also it gives a feeling of enjoyment and a good competition. Peer work can spark interest and bring new insight to topics which are sometimes boring to study individually.
This can motivate your homeschooler to complete his or her tasks in the expectation of socializing afterwards.
11. Reduce Their Workload
Sometimes you spread yourself too thin, and the key to motivation isn’t putting more on the plate but decreasing the weight. Burying your child with homework or expectation for high achievement could lead to burnout and frustration.
Rather than clutter your child’s mind with stuff probably won’t measure up to expectations. Break tasks into manageable pieces and give your child time to absorb things without specific deadlines laid on his back.
By thinning their tasks, it releases them, lifting them up, making them desire more learning.
12. Let Them Listen to Music
Music is special in regard to use in changing mood, focus, and productivity. Have your homeschooled child listen to music while doing tasks that require concentration such as reading, writing, and doing math.
This can induce a relaxed and a motivating environment, and can make them focus better. It’s okay to let your child determine the style of music he or she likes. From mellow instrumental tunes or classical music to the more energetic kind of music.
Music offers a sensory outlet that enables even the most tedious activities to become more fun. Thus, making it easy to stay in tune with their lessons.
13. Give Them Space
Sometimes, the only way you can motivate a child is leaving them alone. Provide free time for your homeschooler to think for himself, work independently, or be involved in creative activities. It is a way to breathe new life into their interest of learning.
Freedom to learn about subjects the way they want to learn about them makes them feel as if they have more control of their education. This autonomy encourages intrinsic desire and a zeal to take ownership of their learning.
Guidance is important. But at times stepping back and adding space will enable children to think critically and creatively. To the point that they will become more self motivated.
Small Steps go a Long Way
Although changes in motivation for homeschooling children are expected during the academic year, it is crucial to address the issue before he or she falls behind.
Don’t forget to communicate with your children in a direct manner.
Talking about the problem and coming up with solutions will help your kid develop motivating techniques that will help them now and in the future.
Check out the blog, as we have provided top 5 tips and tricks for first time online homeschoolers .
