Academic performance and motivation are two well differentiated concepts, but at the same time, they are closely related. For this reason, we must motivate children to study, so that they can achieve the best of themselves and obtain good school performance. In addition, today, having studies implies having more job opportunities, a fact that worries parents and teachers so much because it affects the future of children. To know how you can help children (students and children) to be motivated in their studies, do not hesitate to continue reading this article from Psychology-Online: how to motivate a child to study.
Index
- Motivation: what is it
- Types of motivation
- How to motivate my child in studies
Motivation: what is it.
What is motivation? Motivation can be understood as a set of processes that are involved in the activation, the direction and persistence of people's behavior, that is, it could be considered as that what
Although sometimes the origin of motivation is aversive, motivation as a whole is usually considered a desirable state for most people. For example, hunger, pain, punishment, etc., are powerful sources that motivate people, from So when people are hungry, their motivation leads them to act in certain ways in order to get food. However, there are other situations in which motivation is the result of external aspects or incentives, such as the curiosity of human beings, which leads them to act in one way or another in order to respond to your curiosity and your doubts.
Thus, it can be considered that motivation is not a static and fixed process, but rather is a dynamic process, that changes depending on the situation in which each person is.
Types of motivation.
What are the different types of motivation? exist two types motivation: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Below is the explanation of both motivations.
Intrinsic motivation
On the one hand, the intrinsic motivation is characterized by leading people to act on their own, with the purpose of feeling satisfied for the simple fact of acting as they propose. Thus, its origin does not depend on the outside of the individuals since they do not have the need to respond to external incentives, but rather found in the person, so that people start it when they think so, when they feel like it, and when they feel like it. wish. In addition, it should be noted that this motivation is not used as a means to achieve other goals, but it is used for satisfaction and desire, as when it is a vocational work.
Extrinsic motivation
On the other hand, extrinsic motivation is that motivation that leads people to act in a determined way in order to satisfy other reasons that are not related to one's own activity. Thus, its origin is outside the person, therefore, the motivation caused in people comes given by external stimuli to them, for example, by other people, by the environment, among others. In this case, people use motivation to achieve other goals that are not related to the actions that motivation leads them to perform.
Examples of types of motivation
In order to better understand the difference between these two types of motivation, we show you the following example:
- Intrinsic motivation: a child makes an effort to study because he enjoys learning, shows curiosity about everything that he can learn and that he still does not know, among others.
- Extrinsic motivation: a child strives to study in order to receive the love and approval of her parents, Also, if you get good grades, it is very likely that your parents will give you some reward, such as a toy new.
In this sense, motivation is closely related to people's academic performance. Well motivation is what predisposes children to strive in their studies and, thus, to be able to learn in a more meaningful way.
How to motivate my son in studies.
In order to motivate a child to study, it is recommended to work in relation to three specific aspects:
1. The values
The first aspect to take into account are the values, normally these must be transmitted by the parents. The values in relation to the studies refer to those motives, purposes or reasons for which it is considered that children should perform certain activities. For this reason, if we find ourselves in front of a child who does not want to study or is unmotivated to do so, we must make sure that he asks why you should study and what importance it involves studying in your life and in your future. Getting children to understand studies as important and relevant is very beneficial, since according to The degree of importance attributed to studies will determine the involvement of children in their studies.
2. The expectations
The second aspect to take into account is expectations and they refer to perceptions and beliefs that children have about their own ability to study. For this reason, we must promote children's capacity for self-knowledge and propose other points of view, in order to get them to see their expectations and abilities for study as something possible. For this reason, to motivate a child to study as well it is very important to show our support to our kids.
3. Affection and emotion
Finally, the aspect related to the affective and emotional dimensions. In this case, what one tries to work on are the feelings, the emotions and the affective relationships that the child shows towards her studies. Therefore, we must discover how our son feels in relation to their ability to study. In addition, living in an environment where you convey positive emotions In relation to studies, it can be beneficial, since it can allow the child to be more motivated to study and adapt to the situations that studies may entail.
Here you can find personal motivation techniques for kids.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to motivate a child to study, we recommend that you enter our category of Education and study skills.
Bibliography
- Lamas, H. (2008). Self-regulated learning, motivation and academic performance. Liberabit, 14 (14), 15-20.
- Núñez, J.C. (2009). Motivation, learning and academic performanceor. Proceedings of the X International Galician-Portuguese Congress of Psychopedagogy. Braga: University of Minho.
- Soriano, M.M. (2001). Motivation, the basic pillar of all kinds of effort. University of Zaragoza: area of Evolutionary and Educational Psychology of the Teaching School of Teruel.
