I could still remember the first time my son went to school, he was so excited. Even until now, he gets giddy knowing that he’ll see his teacher and classmates and that he’ll learn new things. He loves going to school but doing homework, well, that’s a different case.

Every time we do his assignment, I end up threatening or screaming and yes, I know he’s just a kid but it’s hard to be patient at times. I could see that he wants to listen but he just can’t hold his attention long enough. Perhaps, it’s because of the environment.

At school, these little ones are expected to learn, to listen to their teacher, to draw, count, and/or sing. At home, they know it’s different. Besides, they just went home from school; they deserve playtime.

Unfortunately, this is not the case when they entered kindergarten. Even after school, they need to do a few tasks before they can touch their toy cars or dolls. So as a parent, how do you do this? How do you motivate a child without losing your temper? How do make homework almost as fun as playtime (or even better)?

Motivating A Kindergarten To Do Homework

Toddlers are naturally curious. They love to discover new things and they are willing to learn about almost everything around them. But sometimes, when it comes to school-related tasks, they need to be motivated.

And when it comes to motivation, most parents (including me) think that it’s about rewards. For me, this method gives an instant result. 

For instance, I’ll just tell my son that he’ll receive a sticker when he listens to my instructions and do it properly. It works almost 95% of the time. But as they say, too much of a good thing is bad. 

Here’s one example I found online:

The thing is, a reward system can really work but when a child relies too much on it, there’s a chance that they’ll use it against you. They might even lose their interest in things, such as homework, in case you decided to remove the reward.

So how do you motivate a child without any external reward involved?

Interesting Read: Benefits Of Bedtime Stories

Introducing Intrinsic Motivation

As the name suggests, it’s a type of motivation that brings internal or natural satisfaction. The person experiences joy or excitement from within and it’s caused by pressures or tangible rewards.

Basically, when you want to practice intrinsic motivation on your kid, you have to help them realize that homework is a fun or exhilarating thing to do, not some daunting tasks.

And how do you do this?

It starts within you. Rather than having a working mindset, develop a learning mindset first. 

Understand that going to school is all about learning and exploring new things, developing skills, acquiring expertise, and improving overall as a person.

Sure, it can help your kids land a good job or bigger income but if you have a mentality like this, then you only have a working mindset.

You see, when you have a learning mindset, you are thirsty for learning and you have fun by acquiring new knowledge alone. Imagine, your kids have to spend around 15 to 17 years in school and when they don’t learn how to enjoy it, that’s going to be a long time of frustration and misery.

I know it’s easier said than done but helping yourself and your child develop a learning mindset can make a difference. 

Here are some things to avoid when you want to make homework sound more interesting to your child:

DON’T Refer To Homework As Work Or Job

C’mon, even adults don’t like to work. When you think of something like a job, it sounds daunting already so it only makes homework less attractive to your child.

DON’T Use Force, Nagging, Or Bribing

Sure, rewards are good but when you use it most of the time, whether it’s in a nagging or bribing form, the outcome can be disappointing.

Rather than buying a new toy every time your kids finish their tasks, improve your little one’s intrinsic motivation instead.

DON’T Use Playtime As A Reward Or Punishment

Using playtime as a reward or punishment for doing or not doing homework can make homework sound horrible.

For example, telling your kid that she can play after doing an assignment or that she CAN’T play if she doesn’t finish her homework can make her realize that homework is not really fun after all.

DON’T Treat “No Homework” As A Reward

To make something seem fun or exciting, you should not make it look like it’s a punishment.

For example, telling your kid that he would NOT do homework if he completed his chore or finished a certain task would make him feel like doing an assignment is something that he should avoid.

Above all, DON’T let your kindergarten do homework alone. Letting them realize that this task is important should not only be said, but it should also be done.

That being said, you should spend time doing the homework with your kid. This doesn’t only give you a chance to remind your kid about its importance but also, it can be a time to strengthen your bond and build memories with your child.

Do you have other tips for other parents? If yes, please feel free to share it below or join our awesome community for moms and dads now!

Happy parenting!