Motivating your Teen to study

the revolution starts even before they become a teenager.  Even though my
kids are not yet in the teenager stage I have taught teenagers before in
my teaching career and they are certainly not easy to handle.

Studying doesn’t seem “cool” to some and most of them rather spend time
doing all the fun things like playing games, watching movies and hanging
out with their peers.

It would be pointless to nag at them about the virtues of good grades.
Having been a teenager myself I dreaded being told that it would be for my
best if I studied hard and got good grades in school.

How then can one motivate your teen to study?

It is not an easy task which needs a lot of discipline and patience on the
part of the parent. However once you are able to equip your teenager with
the right tools to study they would be self-motivated and you would only
need to monitor your child and let him take the reins.

As a parent you can help lay the foundation by doing the following

1. Teaching Time management
   Show them organizational techniques so that they will be able to schedule
   their time properly and have time to both play and study and will not
   dread studying so much.


       

2. Lead by example through continuous learning.
   Sign up for courses and continue your own education even after you have
   finished school.


       

3. 3.       Set up open lines of communications.
   Let your teenager know who and where they can turn to if they
   have difficulties in their studies. By providing them with the support
   they need your teenager is assured that there are people to turn to in
   times of need.


       

4. 4.       Understand and address their fears.
   Most of the times teenagers may face self –esteem problems and as
   a result it trickles into their motivation to study. By helping them
   address their fears or problems that they face will give them more
   motivation to be committed to studying.
   Help your teenager set his academic goal will also give him focus and
   motivation to study hard.


       

5. 5.       Provide Motivational/ intrinsic
   rewards.
   This may or may not work as well with a teenager as compared to a
   younger kid but I believe that everyone will work better if there is a
   reward in mind. It could be concert tickets to their favourite rock band
   or time off to spend with their friends on a weekend instead of spending
   time with the family.  The reward you choose should be something that your
   teenager is aiming for and doesn’t have access to it at the moment.

Dominique Goh, Singaporean

Elementary school teacher, freelance writer and mom of three who is
passionate about parenting and educating kids. In her free time you can
see her dabbling in photography, cooking and cake decorating and blogging
at Dominique’s Desk.