Ways to Motivate Your Child to do Homework

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Some kids tend to be accommodating while others are willful, but regardless of your child’s
temperament, there are bound to be times (even extended phases) when getting him to do his
homework is like pulling teeth. For parents, this can be a difficult situation to deal with. Whether or
not you agree with the amount and type of homework schools are handing out these days (have you
seen all the busy work?), the truth is that your child must keep up if he wants to succeed in school,
and you certainly want him to do his best, benefit from education, and learn to respect the discipline
and work ethic that he will need in his adult life. But how can you motivate him to do his homework
without turning your house into a battle zone? Here are a just a few ways to get your kid on track with
homework, and maybe even make it fun.

1. Offer rewards. Since you know your child pretty well, you probably have a good idea of what
motivates him already. For most kids, added rewards are a good place to start. You can
definitely try to explain the rewards that come with a job well done (good grades, for example),
but most kids want something a little more substantial. So consider offering outings to the park,
the museum, sporting events, concerts, or even theme parks at the end of the semester if your
child brings in good grades. Just be careful not to offer food or monetary rewards, as this can
color the way your child views these types of commodities.

2. Threaten punishment. While many kids will work for rewards, others are far more motivated
by the prospect of avoiding punishment. This is simply a matter of temperament – we can’t all
be go-getters. Punishing your child for bad grades may seem harsh, but his time spent being
grounded can go towards study (which will help him to raise his grades). And since he won’t
enjoy being the only kid stuck at home for part of his winter holiday or summer break, it may
just motivate him to shape up where schoolwork is concerned. Just make sure that there isn’t
some other problem to blame for your child’s bad grades, such as a learning disability or trouble
at school.

3. Lend a hand. Nothing motivates kids more than having a parent hovering around. So if you’re
child seems unable or unwilling to complete his assigned homework, it’s time to get involved
in a very concrete way. Take the time to sit with your child each night and watch him do his
homework, offering to help if he needs it and then checking over his work when he’s done. If
he’s still missing work, ask his teachers if they can email you a homework schedule so that you
can keep him on track. It may sound intrusive, but it’s your job to ensure he has the best chance
to succeed in life.

4. Look online. It may be that your child is bored with school. If it isn’t challenging or fun, he may
simply lose interest. So find ways to make it fun with the many educational websites that offer
supplemental games and lessons in a fun way that speaks to modern kids.

5. Hire a tutor. Some kids just need a little extra help if they’re struggling in school. If your child
falls into this category, then you may want to begin searching for a tuition agency that can meet
his needs. A tutor is definitely an added expense, but if you simply can’t give your child the help
he needs and the school system seems to be failing him, as well, then it’s time to take drastic
steps to get him on track for future success.