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How to Motivate Your Child to do Anything

There is a long summer ahead…. and for many families, this is just an extension of a long spring at home with no school attendance and precious little by way of entertainment.

Many children are fractious, bored, lonely, discontented and anxious. It’s no wonder many are struggling to concentrate, focus and motivate themselves to do very much at all.

In order to get your child up and moving this summer and avoid a case of terminal boredom, your child needs a few projects and goals that will give them a sense of achievement and productivity.

These could be anything from practising times tables, having a day of screen free time every week, reading a book, doing some daily exercise or tidying their room.

You may even challenge them to complete some of the projects in this magazine! For little ones, some

more specific goals for positive behaviour might be appropriate. Decide what you think might work for your child and, if they are older, discuss and agree this with them.

Consider an appropriate motivator for your child. This doesn’t have to be (and, in fact, shouldn’t always be) money and it’s best to avoid sugary treats as rewards too. But it may be that you offer to pay for something your child really needs if they achieve their goal. It’s fun to give an older child a few different projects and goals with points they can earn for each, with the aim of reaching a total number of points and a bigger reward.

Remember to give praise generously for the effort your child goes to, even if they don’t quite achieve all their goals.

You can find lots of reward ideas from simple/low cost to more involved on the next page.

Rewards to Motivate Your Child

Simple/Low Cost

Pick a movie – anything goes if it’s age appropriate! Cook their favourite dinner. A later bed time. Read an extra bed time story. 30 minutes of extra screen time (not appropriate if you are trying to get them off a screen!) One to one time with mum or dad doing exactly what they want. Stickers.

Costs Money

Give your child your loose change – every day for a week! Earn art materials for creative fun. Earn a small item which promotes physical activity. Football, hula hoop or frisbee… Increase their pocket money. Paint a feature wall in their room in their favourite colour. Let your child choose the next family outing. Buy them their favourite magazine, or an app they want.

More Involved

A picnic in the park. Choosing a family activity. An outdoor playdate with friends (activity ideas page 23) Time with your phone to take some photos. Then get them printed. Camp in the garden. A family sports activity Visit the beach.

Go for a bike family bike ride.

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Mums in Lockdown

Four mums and Families magazine Editors tell us how lockdown has been for them. How have they juggled work, parenting, home schooling and life – and survived intact?

Caroline Roope is Editor of Families Solent East magazine. She lives in Hampshire with her husband and two sons. Watch Caroline’s lockdown video.

Laura Macaulay is Editor of Families North Yorkshire and Families Newcastle magazine. She is mum of two boys and lives in Yorkshire. Watch Laura’s lockdown video.

Katy Stollery is Editor of Families Fife and Tayside in Scotland. She just started running her business at the start of lockdown! She is the mum of two girls and lives in Fife. Watch Katy’s lockdown video.

Claire Bottomley is Editor of Families Leeds & West Yorkshire magazine. She is mum of three children ages 2 to 11 – two boys and a girl - and lives in Leeds. Watch Claire’s lockdown video.

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