Self-Motivated Kids In Control Of Their Education

Isn’t that what everybody wants? Wouldn’t you just love to go home to find your kids doing their homework without your having to nag? Wouldn’t it just be great if you didn’t have to negotiate the priority of school work over their favorite TV show? Well, it can happen. You just have to build the right circumstances and conditions at home and teach your kids a very simple concept.

Why at home when we are talking about school work? I hear you ask. For a very simple mathematical reason: Out of the 24 hours we all have in a day, let’s say that kids spend about 8 at school. That’s a pretty good average, sometimes it may be more, or a little less. We are left with two thirds of the day where school is not responsible for kids. Who is responsible for them then? You, their parents. You might not be able to always be there with them but you are in charge of making whatever necessary arrangements for them. Now, let’s take into consideration holidays and vacation time and we’ll see that it’s actually a lot more than two thirds of the time that you have to take care of your kids. So YOU are in charge of their education. School provides instruction on knowledge on some specific issues and you do the rest.

First let’s talk about your actually part in this game: you have to create the right environment for your children if you want them to be self-Motivated. To do this, you are going to need to watch the message you send them, be an example and be very consistent in all that.

What I mean by the message is what is behind your words and actions towards and with your kids. It’s how they will perceive or interpret it. And this is the thing: there should really be no room for much interpretation in what you mean when you talk with your children. The message always have to be very clear; no ambiguity. If you tell your kids they can’t go out until homework is done but you still let them, you are sending a very clear message: homework doesn’t matter. If you make a promise you don’t keep, the message is just as clear: you are not reliable and can be manipulated.

Then you need to be an example. This is pretty self explanatory. You can’t ask your child to tidy up his/her room when there is three days worth of dirty pots in the kitchen sink. You can’t advise your 17-year-old to give up smoking while lighting up. You can’t expect them to be on time to class when you are late everywhere you go. I think we all get this one.

Finally, you need to be consistent in being a role model. Remember that all of the above is what your kids watch all the time, from day one. Children observe their parents all the time and they imitate what they see. So if your actions are confusing or out of line with the values you are trying to raise them by, you are going to raise confused kids that are likely to run havoc.

So that was the part that YOU have to play, as a parent. Now let’s look at the part that your kids have to play: Take responsibility for their actions. I’ve talked about this before but it is a topic that is absolutely essential to successful individuals of any age.

You need to always encourage your kids to question themselves and accept their responsibility in their actions. This can be used in good or bad situations. If your son comes home with a good report card, get him to realize that his hard work, dedication, interest, etc paid off. If your daughter brings back a bad grade, let her become aware that she should have studied more or more regularly. Kids have to learn to think that way so that they don’t grow up falling into the victim mode where it’s always someone else’s fault, or bad luck or alien entities interfering with their lives.

So, if you:

A. Create a well-structured environment at home and
B. Encourage your kids to take responsibility for their actions

You will undoubtedly raise more mature children who will soon naturally understand the value of the privilege education is and who will make the most of it out of their own will.

Don’t waste time, the sooner the better and it is never too late!