Having trouble motivating your kids? You aren’t alone. I've never met a homeschooling parent who has not encountered this situation before. One of the biggest problems is that many parents attempt to re-create the school environment at home. It's no surprise that kids who learn at home, in the same sort of structured environment, often react the same way schooled kids do - they get bored, tired, cranky and uncooperative. Here are the top 7 ways to motivate your children and homeschool happily:

1. Stay Positive. Learning can be difficult in a negative environment. Avoid negative consequences if your child has not finished their work and instead use positive reinforcements which will foster a life long love of learning. Compliment your child whenever possible. Provide praise for a job well done and offer encouragement if he is struggling. As humans, we all need positive feedback. Provide it often and watch as motivation increases.

2. Show Empathy. Sometimes letting your student know that you understand his emotions helps him move through difficult times. Use phrases like, “I understand you’re having trouble focusing right now” and “I see that you’re having a difficult time starting your assignment,” understanding your child’s struggles will make them feel like you are helping them rather than judging them.

3. Take Small Steps. When a student is overwhelmed, lack of motivation can occur. The best thing to do is break bigger tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps. When your child accomplishes small tasks, offer praise and give then some more tasks to accomplish. Continue this process until your student is in a positive frame of mind and ready to tackle additional work on his own.

4. Offer Rewards. While younger students enjoy prizes boxes, small toys, and special rewards for finishing work, be sure to not go overboard with the rewards. Also, don’t forget to include phrases like, “Wow! You must be so proud of yourself!” and “I bet you’re happy you did such a great job” to help younger students develop pride in their accomplishments, and develop intrinsic motivation. Self motivation is really the focus here because college professors and employers don’t usually have a pirate’s chest full of goodies to reward your son or daughter with.

5. Get Out of the House. If your student lacks motivation and has trouble focusing, take a break and spend some time outside. Ten to fifteen minutes of running, jumping, or walking can burn off extra energy and increase concentration. Also try to have family outings and special trips as a few times per month. Plan trips to local museums, get tickets for a concert, go to a movie, visit a water park, attend a sporting event, or go visit friends.  It is refreshing to have a change of scenery and atmosphere. Once kids have had a break from their normal school routine, motivation levels almost always increase.

6. Review Progress. Nothing motivates a student more than reviewing his progress and accomplishments. If your student is in a slump, be sure to schedule some time to review pieces of his past work together. Provide praise for his efforts and point out his strengths and progress. Encourage your student to continue to produce quality work and talk about future success.

7. Empower Your Student. Teenagers especially do not like being told what to do. I know it’s a scary thought, but allow your middle or high school student to plan their day. Encourage them to budget their time but give them the flexibility to decide on the order and length of time they will spend on assignments. Giving students a sense of ownership helps motivation them and builds their self-esteem. It’s also great preparation for college and beyond.

It is normal for motivation levels to fluctuate throughout the school year, but it is important to address challenges before a student falls behind. Have an open dialogue between yourself and your child and create motivational skills that will benefit your student now and well into the future.

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