3 Requirements Kids Need for Self-Motivation
Kids need three things before they are self-motivated to take action.
The first requirement is providing the child a detailed understanding of what they need to do. Second, they need to know why it’s important for them to do it. Third and finally, they need to believe that if they try to do it, they have a good chance at succeeding.
In order to help a kid with understanding, you must have the patience to break down the seemingly obvious. The best way to do this is to use empathy to explain what is needed from the perspective of the child.
Once understanding is established, then you must enhance this understanding by tying the action to a goal that is important to the child. By tying the action to a goal, the action becomes as important to the child as the goal itself.
After that, the final ingredient for self-motivation is instilling confidence by co-creating a realistic step by step plan with the child that all but guarantees success. This process of creating a realistic plan is usually the final nudge needed for self-motivation.