A mom sees her child playing video games instead of doing his homework. She tells him, “If you don’t do your homework, you can’t play your games anymore!” She takes away his gaming console and later finds that he STILL hasn’t done his homework.
She wonders: why isn’t this punishment working? The truth is… punishment isn’t helping motivate your child! In fact, it’s teaching them that homework completion is more of a priority than learning. Kids won’t make an effort on their homework.
Plus, some learn to lie about getting it done! Our back to school tip to making sure they’re Focused, Disciplined, and Learning is… Reward their efforts instead of the outcome.
1. Break up their work into small, manageable chunks.
2. As they complete each chunk, check-in and talk about each section.
3. Reward them! It doesn’t need to be candy or video games– play their favorite song, watch a silly video together, or give them words of encouragement!
4. Schedule breaks to give their brain a rest. They might even need some physical movement to rid of their excess energy and focus better!
Kids crave fun and stimulation. When homework is piled high, and video games are way more exciting, they need someone to help them focus.
You can help your child finish their tasks (and make their videogame time so much sweeter)! Transform a chore into a fun routine, helping not just with homework, but with life’s challenges too.
Let us know how these back to school tips helped!