How to Help Children Who Have No Desire to Learn
If your child displays an unwillingness or lack of enthusiasm about learning, don't get discouraged. As noted in Innovative Education Management's helpful article, "My Child Doesn't Enjoy School," children (and adults!) often fail to enjoy and appreciate what is actually good for them. Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to help encourage their children to appreciate and value their education and school environment.
Instructions
Listen to your child's concerns and difficulties. Try to draw out any possible reasons that he is uninterested in learning new things. As noted in Cynthia Ulrich Tobias' helpful book, "I Hate School: How to Help Your Child Love Learning," other influences, such as relationships with peers and teachers or family problems, may be the cause of your child's reticence towards school. You will only understand your child's lack of desire by listening with an open mind and observing him on a day-to-day basis. Rule out any serious problems that may be causing your child's lethargic attitude towards learning. Could your child have a learning disorder? Is there a teacher at school who may be causing discouragement or lack of interest? Any serious problems should be addressed immediately, and you may even want to see a school counselor if you have serious concerns. Ensure that your child is getting enough sleep. If a child is exhausted, they are not going to get excited about anything, especially learning and studying. Make sure that your child gets between 8 and 10 hours of sleep per night. Moderate distractions and extracurricular activities. Sports, extracurricular activities and socializing are good for children, but they must be carefully regulated. If a child is too distracted by these activities, then they will dread studying or anything that keeps them away from them. Allow a certain amount of time for play, but make sure that you also set aside time every night for study. Get involved. As noted in a helpful article at Readingrockets.org, a website dedicated to teaching young kids to read, parents who are involved in their child's education foster a positive attitude towards learning in their children. Volunteer, attend school events, and develop relationships with your child's teachers. Your child will see your interest, and hopefully follow your example.
