How To Make Your Child Interested In Learning

Work is for adults what studies are for children. If you enjoy your work, if there are positive reinforcements and good rewards, you feel more motivated to give it your best. Otherwise, every day feels like the Hunger Games. You can’t be on an edge all the time and if your child isn’t enjoying studying, it could feel exactly that way.

Sure, you may be able to discipline your child into mugging up their lessons and scoring decently, but does that facilitate learning? Once they are done with their exams, they will be done with all the information that they temporarily hoarded in their minds to get good scores.

Many parents struggle with getting their children to focus on their studies. Many children also struggle with the anxiety that comes with the pressure to perform. How do you then help your child develop a keen interest in studying and learning? Here’s how.

Use positive reinforcement

Motivation is an important part of human behaviour and without it, your performance can be both half-hearted and botched. While intrinsic motivation, that is the kind that comes from within, is ideal, children need that extrinsic push too. However, tangible things such as money, food and gifts aren’t the healthiest of rewards. Children feel enthused with positive reinforcement that focuses on making them feel happy about themselves. “The reinforcement given can be verbal by giving words of praise, support, and recognition that the teacher gives to his students,” says a 2019 study titled Building Children’s Learning Motivation Through Positive Reinforcement In Science And Math Classroom published in the Journal of Physics Conference Series.

Learn with your child

If your goal is to get your child interested in learning, you should learn with them. Lead with example. Aradhana Asher, a mother of a nine-year-old child and a former teacher, says, “You need to be more involved and be interested in learning with your child. Try to do certain activities together, such as reading and finding more information on certain topics. This will build their thirst for learning.” She further adds that building a thirst to learn can be inculcated through fun activities too. “Taking up a hobby together also develops a love for learning as it teaches them no matter how old you are, learning should not stop,” she advises.

The reinforcement given can be verbal by giving words of praise, support, and recognition that the teacher gives to his students. While strengthening thumbs nonverbal include the provision of thumb, a smile, a cheerful countenance and symbols in the form of stars and gifts.

Give your child choices

We often underestimate a child feeling a loss of control. As adults we’d love to be in charge of our own life, so why not help a child feel they aren’t completely controlled? Of course, discipline is important. However, giving them the power to choose helps them not only discover what works best for them but also makes them more responsible. “It teaches them to be more responsible and take more ownership of their learning,” points out Asher. It’s okay to let your child study a chapter from their English textbook if they are not in the mood to solve a math problem. Sometimes, giving them this free pass helps them feel they aren’t being subjugated.

Do not make studying a goal-oriented process

We underestimate how careful we should be with criticism. Sure, constructive criticism is good but it is only constructive when it helps, and not when it breaks down your morale. People often feel that their child’s performance in school is a direct reflection of their performance as a parent. However, focussing on just the results will discourage your child from developing a love for learning, as well as impact their self-image when they don’t do as well as they (or you) had expected. “Do not criticise their results. Instead, appreciate their effort, try to understand what can make them better at it and then strategise a way to do it,” explains Asher.

Help your child be organised

Academics can be overwhelming with the sheer amount of homework, assignments, reading and learning that’s to be done. It can be overwhelming for even an adult, let alone a child. Helping your child develop organisational skills will help them break down their tasks better and manage their time as well for maximum productivity. “You should sit and discuss what needs to be done. Keep them involved in the process of setting goals and strategising how to achieve them,” Asher explains.

She further adds that organisational skills should be developed through various aspects of life and not just studies. “Stop over-functioning for them. Don’t tidy up their room or pack their bags and manage their clothes after a certain age. This will help them develop organisational skills that go beyond academics and prepare them for life ahead as independent individuals,” Asher advises.

Explore different learning styles

While traditional schools reinforce just one learning style—that is, mugging up the textbook—schools these days have expanded their methods of teaching. Even parents are aware that two children may not have the same learning style and you need to adapt according to what works for your child. Shahin, a mother of a young girl, says, “Engage your child in learning activities through art, craft and games. You can also add fun sheets to the curriculum.” Shahin has made four learning corners for her daughter and believes it makes it fun and interesting. “I made a separate corner for math, linguistics, craft and painting,” she reveals.

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