4 Ways to Help Your Child Stay on Track and Focused
Tom and Jerry, a popular 90’s cartoon, taught many subtle lessons about getting organized and staying on track. The plot for each episode was always the same. Tom was a cat and Jerry was a mouse. Tom would usually be minding his own business (or Jerry would be doing something mischievous) and then he would spot Jerry. They would end up on a wild goose chase where Tom would always lose and Jerry, the more intelligent of the two, would be safe to play another day.
Our children can sometimes be like Tom. They keep their heads down and focus on getting good grades but out of the corner of their eyes, they see something that distracts them. It’s all downhill from there. There is only so much you can do as a parent to keep your child organized and focused. It’s often something that’s out of your control. Intrinsic motivation is the key to helping your child develop the motivation to stay organized and focused. Here are some strategies you can use to help your child develop this intrinsic motivation.
Set Goals
Goal-setting provides the roadmap for any journey. Having something to work towards increases the likelihood that your child will accomplish it. The goals set should be developed by your child, not you. It isn’t about forcing your dreams and priorities. A goal can only be accomplished if your child deems it personally important.
Once the goal has been set, your responsibility is to hold your child accountable. Keep checking on the progress that is being made toward achieving the goal. If there’s a lack of progress, help your child identify the stumbling block and how to overcome it. If progress has been made, no matter how small, reward your child and show that you’re proud.
Divide Tasks into Manageable Chunks
Being overwhelmed is one of the reasons your child may have difficulty getting organized. Sometimes your child may be trying to do too many things at once or maybe trying to tackle a task that can’t be completed in the given time constraints. Teach your child to break large tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Create a Designated Area for Homework and Study
Learning only occurs in the right environment. Your child needs a space that’s free from clutter and distractions so that he or she is more likely to get organized and remain focused. This could simply mean reorganizing the child’s room so that an appropriate table and chair can fit. If you have space, you can also consider creating an entirely separate study room. This article provides some useful tips for creating this space for your child.
Ask the Three W’s
Getting organized and staying focused requires mental dexterity. Your child must develop the daily habit of preparing his or her mind to achieve greatness. The 3 W’s set the stage for making this happen. They are:
- What do I need to start? Your child should know all the materials and support needed to accomplish the tasks for the day.
- When will I accomplish each task? Your child should have a clear plan for when each daily task will be accomplished. Life is unpredictable though so your child should approach this plan with a measure of flexibility.
- Why is each task important to me? Helping your child find the value in accomplishing each task builds the necessary intrinsic motivation. This doesn’t negate the fact, however, that there are some things your child won’t see the immediate benefit of and will resist as a result. You must help your child look beyond the short term so that long-term gains can be achieved.
You can support your child in getting organized and staying focused. However, it’s ultimately the child’s responsibility to develop these good habits. The child must be intrinsically motivated to make it happen. Once you harness the power of that intrinsic motivation, getting organized and staying focused will be a breeze.