Once again while making my rounds on the social networks I came across this interesting question.
"I need some advice please. My daughter will be 13 and she isn't interested in learning to write, spell and do math. She is totally comfortable with herself being behind in school and not trying to catch up".
For many parents doing battle with a child who is uninterested in learning is a horrible and frustrating prospect. But fear not. I have 7 strategies that will jump start your child's passion for learning and rekindle that educational fire.
1) Have Fun! Hey! Kids are just like you. They don't want to work all day with no play, they want to have fun too. So if you can make the work fun, exciting and enjoyable you will have a shot at keeping the attention of your children during school. Remember, one of the benefits of homeschooling is having the ability to customize your child's learning environment. Which means that you dictate how much fun they have during school. Don't just public school at home. Create a vibrant and fun place your child can learn, grow and thrive.
2) Gather Intelligence. You must talk to and observe your kids to find out what their hot buttons are. Watch how they interact with their homeschooling brethren, listen to what they are talking about. Look for clues about what it is your child is passionate about and figure out how to incorporate that into your home school.
3) Exercise. Some kids need to move about to get their minds working. I like Marilyn Boyer's comments regarding this topic. In her post she said that several times during the course of a morning her son would go outside and run or jump on the trampoline. After he was done he would come back in and have his focus again. I find that I think better when I pace and talk things out aloud and my older son also shares this trait. It's ashame that you have to wait until you are an adult in order to get permission to do what comes natural for you. Give your kids permission to move around and jump up and down if that will help them stay focused. Remember, you customize the environment.
4) Be Creative. It's time to think outside the box. The only limitation that we have is the limitations that we place upon ourselves. Don't be hindered by your neighbor or other homeschooling families that give you the thumbs down because of your teaching style. You know your kids better than anyone and you should be able to come up with some creative ways to apply what they have been learning. If you choose to, reward your child with goodies such as money, trips or visiting friends for a job well done, then so be it. If your daughter is into baking and you decide to have a bake sale so she can incorporate math and other life skills into her learning, then do it. In our family we have been struggling with our third son and his a late arrival to the reading and writing scene. We have used flash cards and many other tools for his training but it is amazing how passion will influence effort more than anything. Example, My son came to me one day requesting that I teach him how to tie a "cowboy rope". I purposefully told him to go to youtube to find out, knowing full well that he would need to spell out the words, type them on the keyboard and sit and listen while he follows the instructions being presented to him within the video. Four hours later he was hog tying is younger brother with his new lariat.
5) Collaborate. Some kids thrive on competition. Skype with other families during school to break up the monotony of the boring everyday school doldrums. Kids are often glad to see their friends and find out what they are learning. Building healthy competition is a good thing. It helps promote effort in the tasks your children are working on. Case in point, when teaching my older son the basics of the guitar I would often have to tell him to practice and practically force him but once he joined the church youth band he was practicing on his own with very few reminders from me.
6) Share The Why. Some youth need to understand the why of the work that they are being asked to do. Why do I need math, Why do I need English. We as parents should be able to articulate the reasons to them should they require it to move forward. Ensure their success, don't hinder it because of your past hang-ups with explanations. The days of do it because I told you only last so long and If you continue the heavy handed gestapo regime that might just squelch your child's desire for learning. Let's face it there are just some things that kids will not need and learning it is a waste of time and they know it. Share the principles and concepts so they can get a good foundation on the necessity for their work.
7) Open Up A Can. Hey! Sometimes you just gotta drop some discipline down on your kids. For some youth the fire has to be lit from the "bottom" up. The bible says it this way; "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child and the rod of discipline will remove it far from him". Sometimes, you must equip the "Rod of Discipline" to strike the "Flint" to get that fire going. And when I say flint I mean their "Butt, Tushy, Behind, Backside". Nuff said.
Well there you have it. 7 strategies for jump starting your child's passion for learning. Of course there are many more strategies out there but hopefully these 7 can get you started on your journey to finding out how you can inspire your child when they are uninterested in learning. Remember, everything requires effort and you are on a journey to discover your kids passion knowing this understand that nothing worthwhile is gained by sloth and wishful thinking. You must act.
Do you have a strategy or story you would like to share that has inspired your child to start learning again. Leave a response below to help out your fellow homeschoolers.
KMG-365, I'm Out!
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 5:11AM 
