How to Teach Children to Put Forth Effort

Instilling a strong work ethic in your child at a young age can help her later in life to confront obstacles that she might otherwise see as too challenging to overcome. Some children may lack the concentration necessary to put forth a strong effort on one assignment because they are not trained. Introducing her to work will help familiarize her with tasks and teach them how to get the job done.

Instructions

    • 1

      Tell your child you will time him to see how fast he can put away his toys. This is especially useful for children who are younger than approximately 5 years old. It doesn't take much effort at this age to convince your child that work can be fun if you set goals.

    • 2

      Give your child an option of what chore she can complete. This will create a sense of enthusiasm for her assignment, and she will be more willing to finish the task well. Praise the child for doing the job by giving her a treat or by saying, "Well done."

    • 3

      Keep a consistent work standard. For example, always expect your child to clean up after himself, and eventually he should start doing it without being prompted. You can set the same expectation for activities such as homework, which could be completed at 7:30 p.m. every evening, for example.

    • 4

      Encourage your child by saying things like, "I believe in you," or, "Just because you can't do it now, doesn't mean you can't learn how." Continuously remind her about what reward she will receive at the end of the task, whether it is good grades, the satisfaction of completing a task, or a clean room.

    • 5

      Teach your child how to develop a list. This will put his tasks into perspective, and he will be more likely to complete each task. He also may find checking off each completed task satisfying.

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