How to Deal With a Lazy Child

Parents and children communicate through their behavior, according to PBS.org. Children who appear lazy send a message that they need help, and parents can respond appropriately after wrapping up some detective work. You might discover more than one reason for your child̵7;s apparent laziness. After ruling out serious concerns, your positive example and consistency in holding your child accountable to reasonable expectations can provide your child with new incentive.

Instructions

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      Communicate your concerns to your child, and encourage her to express her concerns to you. Take the time to listen to what your child expresses without judgment -- just listen. Resist the temptation to challenge the rationale of your child's responses. Creating an argument creates additional obstacles.

    • 2

      Ask your child̵7;s pediatrician for a referral to a counselor or mental health profession if your child struggles with feelings of anxiety, depression or anger. Eliminating learning and emotional issues as sources of a child's lack of motivation serves as a prompt for parents to discuss accountability and consequences with their child.

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      Request a conference with your child̵7;s teachers to discuss progress and concerns. Collaborate with the teachers to ensure that you understand the expectations your child must meet in school.

    • 4

      Communicate reasonable, concise expectations for behavior in the home and school settings with your child, addressing chores that your child identifies as especially unpleasant. Offer suggestions to deal with these issues. For example, if your child says she dislikes taking the trash out to curb, suggest she consider swapping chores with her sibling.

    • 5

      Deliver positive or negative consequences contingent on your child̵7;s performance. Reiterate the connection between her choices and consequences. If you want your child to consistently demonstrate goal-oriented behavior, demonstrate consistency in monitoring her progress, and delivering consequences. For example, explain to your child that she earns time on the computer after, and only after designated household chores and homework assignments are complete.

    • 6

      Remember the power of your influence, suggests a web page on the Duke University website. Model that planning and efforts produce desirable outcomes. Conversely, when parents complain about work-related projects or employers, they communicate that work produces negative results. Your children listen, watch and emulate your observable behavior.

    • 7

      Provide genuine, specific praise to reward your child's positive efforts, according to a web page on the University of California at Berkeley website, rather than a one-size-fits-all compliment. For example, instead of saying, "Great work!" consider saying, "I like the way you remembered to clean the cat's litter box without a reminder."

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