If you want your kid to become a worthy student, you must help him or her to think beyond the classroom walls and open up to a fresh new world of ideas.
Here are 3 ways to motivate your kids to study, so that they discover the joy of studying and move towards excellence.
1. Get your child into the habit of reading
As parents, do dedicate substantial amount of time and take turns in reading to your child. You can also set up a reading time for the family where every family member reads his or her own book, or even reads stories to others one at a time. Remember, there is no substitute for reading in building up a good study habit because “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” (quote by Charles William Eliot)
To inspire your child to read, you must first show him how significant reading is in your own life. So, fill your home with lots of newspapers, novels, or even posters that have something written on them. Your aim should be to make reading a fun experience, and not a frustrating one.
2. Give your child a certain amount of freedom
So far as studying and education is concerned, almost all children have to experience the burden of control. It is okay to control your child to some extent, but too much of control can cause the child to withdraw from learning. It is crucial to offer children guidance as they study, but it is also of great significance to let each child control his or her own learning experience. As Eliphas Levi rightly said, “A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who find learning hard”.
Whether it is at home or at school, make sure that children are capable of controlling their learning choices. Place good amount of options in front of these kids. For instance, if you are a teacher arranging for a writing assignment for kids, allow them to select their own topic. In the words of Margaret Mead, “children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”
3. Connect the abstract to the concrete
This is one of the best methods for motivating kids to study. It is in fact a version of the case-study method, which has led to wonderful results in case of law, medical and business students. Connect the abstract information that the child gathers with real-world concrete situations, so that children can make more sense of what they are studying. Yusef Komunyakaa, the famous American poet, says, “I like connecting the abstract to the concrete. There’s a tension in that. I believe the reader or listener should be able to enter the poem as a participant.” This entry is very important, and for that the connection between the abstract and the concrete is vital.
Studying does not mean only going through books and grabbing the content. It means exploring the world and asking questions as and when necessary and you must encourage your kids to do the same. Eventually, let your kids master the art of self-motivation by giving them autonomy.
Digital Senior is a portal on tertiary studies in Singapore that helps students in making the right decisions when choosing a course that determines their career path.