Motivating Teens to Study

Motivating Teens to Study

Students who have intrinsic learning motivation, want to learn for their benefit.  Often these students enjoy and are rewarded by the learning process. Students who see the inherent value of learning usually pursue education more profoundly and more long lastingly than those who don’t. Without placing direct demands on teens, parents can create a family environment that encourages the intrinsic love of learning by:

  • Modelling curiosity – When parents participate in activities such as reading books, or newspapers, watching educational TV programs, play educational games, attending exhibitions, museums etc.,  discussing ideas, sharing opinions and thinking out loud they may spark some learning curiosity in their children.
  • Show genuine interest in your teenager’s schoolwork. This means more than just nagging your teen about what homework he or she has. Instead, try asking about what topic is being studied at school and what he/she thinks about it.
  • Show curiosity and ask him or her to explain the concept to you. When these discussions occur naturally, and at the right moment, it helps young people associate their learning with feeling connected, capable and valued.
  • Show interest in your teen’s interests.  Motivation begins with passion! Assist them in finding out more or provide opportunities to help them develop their skills.
  • Ask teenagers for their opinion on various issues and show interest in understanding their viewpoint.
  • Create an environment at home that gives your teenager space and time to study effectively.  For example, a quiet area, appropriate resources and opportunities to receive support should they require it.

To actively address motivational issues with your teenager, consider the following points:

  • If rewards or punishments centralised around study aren’t working, don’t keep expecting that suddenly they one day will.   For teenagers to develop authentic motivation, parents are encouraged to work collaboratively with them.
  • Parents are discouraged from using their motivational drives to pep up their teenager and get them to study. If your teenager lacks motivation,  lecturing him or her about how important study is will only send that message “you don’t understand me”. Teens, like adults, rarely listen to others suggestions when they don’t feel their position has been heard.
  • Show your teenager cognitive empathy.  Cognitive empathy is demonstrated by listening and giving feedback such as “this is the way it is for you” “this is your current experience” “this is how you see it”.  Respecting your teens perspective means they will be less defensive and more open to explore how their behaviour is working for them and be more receptive to some changes.

When your teen is less defensive about discussing his or her learning attitudes and behaviour with you, goals can be established.  Goal setting is critical to motivation. Your teen should also generate goals.

 

To generate discussions on goals consider some of the following questions as examples:

  • Is it important for you to do well in school?
  • What sort of student do you want to be?
  • In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of being organised with your homework?
  • If you keep this current pattern of study what do you think will happen?
  • Does your current studying behaviours cause any problems for you?
  • If you could change anything about yourself as a student what might it be?

Help your teen see the disparity between their goals and their behaviour through good questioning rather than judgements.  For example, instead of saying “If you don’t spend more time on your studies, you will end up stacking boxes” you could say “you mentioned that you would like to go to uni, do you think your current behaviour is on track to achieve this?”

Instead of trying to change what your teenager thinks (which is hard), try to start some behaviour in the direction of the desired goal.  Even if this very goal is small, behavioural change and success has a powerful influence on thoughts and attitude and is likely to fuel further action.

2018-08-10T14:16:37+10:00 Educational|