Fostering Motivation in Kids With Learning and Attention Problems Learn how to help kids sustain the joy of learning for its own sake in the face of their struggles and frustrations.
Your challenge as the parent of a child with learning or attention problems is to help him build what Drs. Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein call "Islands of competence," to offset the frustrations and low self-esteem that can result from his learning struggles.
The goal is to find subjects or activities where he is self-motivated to learn, enjoys the process of learning, and sees the value of what he learns.
Dr. Stipek says kids will be self-motivated to learn when they: Feel competent about something Have some choice and control over their learning Believe that intelligence isn't fixed at birth Feel loved and respected by their parents Help Your Child Discover His Passions One way to build a sense of competence in your child is to encourage his passions.
Dr. Stipek says, "The good news may seem paradoxical: research has shown that the indirect strategy of helping your child enjoy learning and see its value is the best way to improve your child's grades and raise his test scores." If your child has a particular strength in school, such as being a math whiz, find ways outside of school to expose him to math in the real world - computers, hands-on science museums, and math camps.
Help your child learn to set attainable learning goals, such as studying a math concept from a variety of angles until he understands it.
Motivating Learning in Young Children Young children learn from everything they do.
Although the skills he's learning there are crucial to his intellectual and social growth, your child needs your help to open up the world of ideas.
Provide him with play opportunities that support different kinds of learning styles - from listening and visual learning to sorting and sequencing.
Have him teach you what he learned in school today - putting the lesson into his own words will help him retain what he learned.
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