Learning – unfortunately often a painful topic for parents and children. To be able to motivate your child to learn, a delicate touch is required. A look that is too stern, a tone that is too harsh, or too much attention, and it can lead to a real power struggle between parents and children. Many children start the first grade highly motivated, eager for knowledge, and curious. Over the years, these qualities ebb away more and more. Children are never as curious again as they are in early childhood. We must perceive this more consciously and try to protect it in children for as long as possible. Let the children make their own discoveries and experiences, and do not spoon-feed them your knowledge right from the start. Parents – and yes, teachers too – have the task of inspiring and encouraging children and igniting their enthusiasm. Here are a few tips to make learning fun (again):
Tips to motivate your child to learn
Correct communication with the child
Avoid reproaches if the child has made a mistake or overlooked something. Remain objective and do not dictate everything to them. They should figure things out for themselves. If possible, only give tips like 'Look up at...' or let the child explain the task to you. Often, the child will come up with a solution while explaining. With indirect help, the child will still be proud of their own achievement in the end.
Many children constantly want their parents' attention and are always asking for help with homework. Try to fulfill this wish outside of homework time and show them that you trust them to work independently. As a compromise, offer to look through the homework together with the child.
Very important:Praise! Praise them again and again for things done well. Best of all, even in front of others when the child is not expecting it; this strengthens self-confidence and motivates them to keep going.
Keep the fun alive
Children are naturally inquisitive and want to learn. Unfortunately, it is not always the subjects of chemistry, Latin, or mathematics that will interest them in the long run. Here, it is important to maintain the playful aspect. In the private sector, 'explorer boxes,' learning games, or computer-aided forms of learning are often offered, where children do not just learn rigidly. With such boxes, it is easier for the child: they want the result and try and study until they have mastered everything. Because when you do something with full enthusiasm, it anchors itself better in the brain than when it is learned by rote without any interest.
For some children, it also helps a lot to set nice goals: e.g., if they wish to become a pilot: "When you can read and write, then you can become a pilot." Or if they desperately want to try out a computer game from Dad, etc.
Extra tip:Do not use the word 'learn' too often, but vary it and say 'experiment,' 'find out,' or 'discover' more often.
Creative learning
Try to make learning more interesting. Nowadays, there is a large range of digital media or learning games
Some children like learning with flashcards. Other children, in turn, find it easier to learn when they do it together with a parent or grandparent.
Align excursions with school material
Try to incorporate school material into excursions; for example, biology lessons can be wonderfully deepened outdoors. Zoo visits for animals or admiring trees in forests are just a few ideas to spice up dry school material a little. Anyone who wants to can also incorporate arithmetic while shopping or reading street names ("Who can read the street name the fastest," etc.).
Furthermore, there are also many board games or PC games that playfully convey many things from school. On the iPad, we have a game from Lilifee where letters, numbers, and also coins have to be recognized. Our daughter loves this game because she can win a flower again and again, and additionally, a music sequence is unlocked.
The child gets to decide
Does your child prefer to learn in the evening? Even if it is difficult, trust your child and try it out. However, make it clear that if it doesn't work, you will take care of the study time. Theoretically, the best time to learn is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. But some children want to get everything done right after lunch and start at 2 p.m. Other children are so tired from school or have such a need for movement that they want to play or run around first.
The "where" is also very important when learning. Some children have a favorite place to learn. Respect this wish and try whether it is the right thing for you and the child. Ensure that they have a quiet and bright workspace where no television is running or a younger sibling is constantly carrying away the pens.
Funnily enough, we parents think that children absolutely need a desk when they start school. It was the same for us, of course, and perhaps for many others: it was used as a storage shelf for a long time. The children much preferred sitting at the dining table with me. My daughter also often liked sitting on the floor. I think that is not a problem at all, as long as they finish their things.
Extra tip:the concentration span of children is limited, so short breaks are always necessary. Depending on the age of the child, already after 20 to 30 minutes.
Preparing for school tests
When the first school tests are coming up, it is very exciting for the children AND parents. But how do you study for them now? It is important to start in time, and yes, I know, it will not always run so smoothly, especially when the children are older and in higher schools. If you start too late here, then learn the things first that the child still has difficulties with.
It is very good if the child, for example, has a timer running during an essay for a school test, so that they can see for themselves how they are managing within the time frame. Especially in German, it is also a good exercise to present the child with a text that contains errors. Here, the child learns to discover errors and to read precisely.
Strengthen self-confidence
It is very important to strengthen the child's self-confidence. In school, participation is highly valued, so it is an advantage if the child raises their hand and participates. However, many children do not dare to, are afraid of saying something wrong and being laughed at.
So it is important that you praise your child: not only for good grades, but also when they do something very well in the household or in their private life. Athletic successes also spur them on, so joint sporting activities can encourage your child. Give your child the opportunity to try out new things, to be ambitious, and to face challenges. This works best if you live it out for them in the same way: dare to try new things yourself, remain curious and eager for knowledge. This helps the child not only in school but also on their further path.
Time for recovery
During the semester, it is usually a tightly packed schedule that chases parents and children through the weeks. That is why the holidays or even small breaks on the weekend are very important. Even with bad grades, children need time to regenerate. In the holidays, the first time should therefore be reserved only for recovery, and towards the end of the holidays, slowly start learning again. Reward yourself and the child after learning: a small excursion, they are allowed to invite a friend, you go swimming, etc.
Also, do not pack the week completely full of appointments. The child should have time for sufficient movement and free play. Nowadays, parents are very ambitious and want to offer children as much as possible at a young age: English, sports, and music as leisure activities. Even if you mean well, do not overdo it. Your child also needs to be bored at home sometimes!
Getting help, tutoring, or a learning coach
If learning for a subject does not work despite all efforts, do not be afraid to get help. Often, learning with parents does not work sooooo well, and it is advisable to bring an outsider on board. Tutoring can be requested from large institutes, but often high school students also offer tutoring to improve their pocket money. Check at the school if there is a board with offers for tutoring, or ask friends and acquaintances whose children are in high school.
Often it also pays off to consult a learning coach who can give valuable tips for learning. Here I can, for example, recommend learning coach Verena Fellner from Gänserndorf. She gave us simple but effective tips for learning.
Also read: Finding the right school bag
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
