Most children find their secondary school years to be a time with lots of change. They’re older than children, still not quite adults, but they’re responsible for their own futures and are faced with lots of life-changing decisions.
Teenage years can be daunting, and it’s easy for those who have no idea which career path they want to follow to hang back with their efforts. That’s why it’s so important to figure out how to motivate your secondary-school age children to achieve their potential.
One senior school Oxfordshire believes children need a creative approach to help them achieve and is doing its best to unlock the children’s potential.
How to keep your teens motivated to achieve
These are some tips that experts believe can help keep your secondary-school aged children achieve their potential.
Encourage creativity
Creative pursuits are just as important as academic subjects. If your child shows an interest in art or music, they should be encouraged to spend time doing what they love as well as the other work that’s expected of them. A creative outlet can energise your teen and help them feel motivated with other areas of their life.
Ensure they get enough sleep
Teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep each night, but persuading them to get that in can be tough. Teen years tend to be afforded extra freedom – like parents not policing bed times any more. As a result, teenagers tend to stay up later than they should and miss out on hours of vital sleep. Work out a compromise and agree to certain days they can stay up (like the weekend) to ensure they get enough sleep on school days.
Reward good work
The key to keeping motivation levels up is to give rewards for achievements. If your child has studied hard for a test and it’s paid off, reward them with a trip to the cinema or an item of clothing they’ve been after. Even if they miss the mark, if they’ve put the work in, their hard work should be recognised. This will keep them motivated to continue working hard.