How to motivate a child to set their goals?

A child without a goal is like a bird without wings, who wants to soar but doesn’t know to open those wings. The only thing that can help them to soar is motivation. Many teachers and parents worry about the future of their children and their goals because they don’t know how to motivate their children to achieve their goals. And to fix the goal, only motivation can be the key. This article will help parents and teachers in motivating their children to achieve their educational goals.

Two types of motivation

• Inbuilt Motivation
• Inculcated Motivation

Inbuilt Motivation

Inbuilt motivation is also known as innate motivation. A child with inbuilt motivation gets motivated even with non-living things or without any formal motivational conversation. For example, if a child is fond of watching airplanes and helicopters flying then the child will try to know how the airplanes and helicopters fly, who makes them fly? This curiosity will lead that child to pursue the path of aviation.

Inculcated Motivation

Every child is a special child with some special powers. Every child has short-term or long-term goals that are achieved or not, sooner or later. But in this era of globalization and neck-to-neck competition, it is important to set the goals on time so that they can be achieved on time and precisely. Many children suffer from the push and pull of the so-called motivation, where parents compare their kids with the other kids, cite the example of successful people, or try to frighten them with loads of responsibilities. Rather than getting motivated, the children get indifferent and demoralized. The perfect way to motivate a child is not to let the child know that he is being motivated. Then, how to motivate the child?

Here are the significant ways to motivate a child:

• A THREAT-FREE ENVIRONMENT:

A positive and threat-free environment can reinforce the students themselves. An environment where teachers and parents create a safe and supportive environment to reinforce the caliber and potentials of the child. They can make the children able to find out the loopholes in their abilities. The children should themselves know the dos and don'ts. They focus more on motivational acts than motivational talks. Being rude or violent can never be the solution to achieve educational excellence.

• CLEARANCE OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES

It is important to tell the significance of learning to children. It will make the student goal-oriented. This process should start at the very beginning of the year, with clear objectives, strategies, and expectations to avoid any confusion and make the students more enthusiastic and motivated.

• KNOWING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:

A motivator should know the strengths and weaknesses of children. Realizing the students about their strengths and weaknesses helps them to stay confident and internally motivated. It will help them to know in which field they can excel or they want to aspire.

• A SPIRIT OF HEALTHY COMPETITION:

Inculcating a healthy competition in the classroom can motivate students to work harder. It is not about comparison but a sense of doing something better. Try to grow a community of learners. Social interaction makes them more excited about their learning objectives. Group discussions, group games, and sharing of views can motivate students to excel in their works.

• POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT:

Wherever necessary, motivates the students fearlessly. Each student loves to have attention and get rewarded. A motivator should be aware of the personality and requirements of a student. This reinforcement could be material or verbal. A simple “Very Good” can motivate them to do well. A public appreciation for a job done well motivates them to keep it up. Acknowledge the efforts done in the presence of peers. It makes the students feel fearless and confident.

• TRACKING THE PROGRESS:

Assessment of achievement at regular intervals will help to change or continue the current strategy. Based on that, a teacher or parent can build better strategies to help improve a child’s performance.

Remember always that a child with inbuilt goal fixing qualities can be motivated by anyone or anywhere; the real challenge is to inculcate motivation from within. Do not over-test your students. Unnecessary stress hinders a better response. Positive motivation can incredibly enhance the learning ability and academic achievements of students.