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At some stage, most parents will look for advice on how to motivate their child to do their homework. It can certainly be a challenge, especially as children have access to so much technology that they’d much rather be playing with. However, getting your child to do their homework doesn’t have to be painful, as explored below by a private boy’s school in London.
Usually, when parents think of motivating their kids, they think of rewards and punishments. While this works sometimes, it’s important that children don’t become reliant on rewards because once that reward is no longer available, the behaviour will usually also stop. Instead, it’s better to try and find a way to make homework enjoyable, rather than a chore that has to be rewarded. Do their homework with them, because this will show them through your actions that it’s important.
Try not to separate homework and play into their own categories by saying things like “You cannot play on your PlayStation until you have finished your homework”. This automatically puts homework in the opposite bracket to play and having fun. You are essentially saying that homework cannot be enjoyable. Instead, tell your child that you are more than happy for your child to play and complete their homework, as long as both are completed before bedtime. This gives them a sense of autonomy over their homework rather than making it feel like something they have been forced to do over and above everything else.
With that said, avoid nagging or bribing your child to do their homework, because it will hinder their intrinsic motivation. If they refuse to do it, let them face the natural consequences. Tell them that if they don’t complete their homework, they may be in trouble with their teacher and they may also fall behind in class because they won’t have retained the information that they were previously taught. This might then lead to them having to study during their lunchbreaks or after school when everyone else is playing in order for them to keep up. If they still choose not to do their homework, that’s up to them.
