5 Ways to Motivate Your Kids to Get Things Done

Getting kids to do chores can be a chore in itself. But motivation can be equally hard to inspire in kids. It can be the dishes, the laundry, the homework, or a lot of different things that need to be done so that we all have a clean house and a clean slate. In this post, I’ll bring up 5 different ways to motivate kids to get things done.

If your child has a neuropsychiatric diagnosis, it will be more of a challenge. And if your child does, you have to spark their interest to keep them motivated.

If your kid likes games, make it a game. For instance, set a time on cleaning their room. Or break the task of cleaning their room into smaller increments and if they complete them within the time limit they get more time or another reward.

Like we had our oldest pick chestnuts from the yard and fill a bucket with them. We got him motivated by promising him a piece of candy for every grade of the bucket he filled. He filled the whole bucket in record time.

But the truth is, not every method of motivation will work with your kid.

Because what works for one kid may be detrimental to another! It is all about finding the keys that unlock your kid’s motivation.

As parents, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to be a friend to your child, but your goal is to be their leader, teacher, and motivator, too!

Here is a list of things you can try to motivate your kids.

1. Kids love praise.

Kids want your attention and praise. They will do almost anything to get it.

If they know that doing the things they’re supposed to do will bring them praise, they’re more likely to do those things.

You’re their parent and they want to make you proud of them.

By encouraging them and praising them frequently, you’re reinforcing good behavior.

2. Offer rewards.

Rewards motivate kids. The rewards don’t have to be large or involve money. You can reward your children by:

• Spend time with them doing an activity they enjoy
• Read to them
• Play games with them
• Curl up and watching a movie together

All of these rewards are positive motivators for your children. They’ll be much more eager to do their household chores if the reward is something they can look forward to. Have a board to keep track of who has done what and the rewards each chore will give.

Use the board to get your kids to work for their allowance. This is more for the older ones.

3. Lead by example.

If your kids see you doing nothing all day long, they’ll feel as if it’s okay for them to do the same thing. Remember that your children are like a sponge and they look up to you and want to emulate you. Meaning they do as you do, not what you say.

Show your kids that regular tasks can be rewarding.

For example, seeing a bunch of separate ingredients transform into cookies that get compliments can give your child a confidence boost to help out again next time! Or have them join you in doing simple chores, like stuffing the laundry machine. Of course, the chores need to be age-appropriate and overseen.

4. Fear of consequences.

There’s a big difference between consequences and punishment. Consequences are good lessons on how their actions or inactions affect their and others’ lives.

Take something away for a short period and explain why you’re doing it and how they can earn it back. This example of natural and logical consequences is essential for preparation for adult life.

5. Show love.

Your children need and want your love and devotion. Show interest in their lives. If your kid show interest in something, do it with them! My mother-in-law started playing World of warcraft just so she could do it with her sons. Because that is what they were interested in at the time.

By showing interest in their interests, you give them less reason to hide what they are doing from you.

Showing children you appreciate them and respect their choices will build a deeper bond between you. When you ask them to get something done, they’ll be more likely to do it because of the mutual respect between you.

Motivating your children isn’t always easy. It takes dedication and consistency to provide the example and direction needed to build a child’s character.

While it may seem easier to throw in the towel and do things yourself, standing steadfast and finding new ways to motivate your kids is much more likely to help them become productive, responsible adults.

As a parent, it’s your job to mold your children into caring, responsible, and respectful adults. Remember, children are people too and are motivated by the same things that motivate anyone else.

Things like love, attention, pleasure, rewards, and recognition top the list of things children crave in their lives. Heaping these essential motivators onto your children will provide great rewards throughout their lives.