HOW TO MOTIVATE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL

As parents we need to help our children learn to take pleasure in their school successes. Self-satisfaction can be a powerful motivator, the experts said. The best way to motivate children to do well in school is to let them know you value education, help them set attainable goals, and create an atmosphere in the home that is conducive to academic success.

Children are far more likely to succeed in school if they know their parents consider education important. Parents can show their commitment by checking assignments, helping children relate their schoolwork to the real world and attending school functions. Our school websites and teachers'  blogs make it easy for parents to stay on top of assignments, projects and helpful links. If the teacher doesn't post work online, or if you have questions about an assignment, you can ask him or her for clarification in an email or with a phone call.

Parents also can show their support by asking to see graded homework papers and tests, and offering to go over materials with their children. It's a good idea to regularly review your student's assignment notebook and homework.

Once you know what your child is working on, talk about it over dinner or in the car. Your children need to feel that what they do in school is important to you.

You can also find ways to incorporate lessons into everyday life. This reiterates the value of what they are learning in school.

Attending conferences and open houses also sends a clear message that you think school is important. Another important role parents have is helping children set reachable goals. Not every child can earn straight 4s, and it's not fair to let one strive for an unattainable goal. If the goal is too high, a child might give up, he said.

Talk to your children about what they want to improve on from the previous year or grading term in school, and follow up with questions. Say things like, "You really want to do well this year, so tell me more about that." Through conversations with your child, you can create a list of meaningful and realistic goals that suit the child's abilities.

Praising children for success along the way helps them develop a love of learning. It also prevents them from developing a fear of failure. Giving children specific feedback can help them achieve their goals. Drawing links between a job well done and the amount of time spent on the assignment or the way it was organized helps children with future work.

Parents need to do more than just motivate their kids to perform well. They also need to provide them with a place to do homework, study for tests and complete projects. The right environment is crucial to academic success. Set aside a place that has the necessary tools - art supplies, glue, pencils - to do homework and projects. Schedule a time for homework, usually immediately after school or after dinner. If you let kids do homework "whenever they get around to it," it sends a message that it's "not that important".

Celebrate your children's successes. When they do well, "make a big deal about it," especially if they've exceeded the goals they've set. Praise the effort, even when the outcome is not what you expected. Remember, change and improvement takes time. The important thing is to keep moving forward.