Motivation & Encouragement Techniques

💡 Motivation & Encouragement Techniques

At Eardley Education Solutions, we know that it is critical to reward your child’s efforts just as much as their achievements. Their breakthroughs often come after they’ve seemed to have reached a plateau and are ready to give up. Those are the times they need the most encouragement. Here are some things you can do to help.

1. Set Small, Achievable Goals 🧩

Break tasks into bite-sized steps. Instead of "do all your homework," try "complete 5 math problems" or "read one short story."
This makes the work less overwhelming and lets them experience quick wins. ✅

2. Celebrate Effort Over Outcome 🎉

Praise phrases like:
"I can see how hard you worked on this!"
"That was a tricky problem, and you didn’t give up."
This builds a growth mindset, showing that effort matters even when the result isn’t perfect. 🌱

Use a jar and fill it with marbles, tokens, or small notes each time they put in real effort.
When the jar is full, they choose a reward from a list you create together. 🎁

3. Let Them Track Their Progress 📊

Create a simple chart or sticker system where they can visually see their accomplishments
(e.g., “5 days of focused reading = a star”). ⭐
Kids love seeing their progress grow!

4. Make It a Shared Journey 🤝

If possible, study alongside them for short periods.
Doing your own work or reading nearby will help your child see that work is part of everyday life. 📖

🌟 Simple Reward System Ideas

📅 Weekly Reward Chart

Pick 1–3 focus goals (e.g., reading for 15 mins, completing a worksheet, asking for help when stuck).

Each time they do one, they earn a ⭐ or point.

At the end of the week, reward them with something they value:

• A special snack 🍪

• 30 mins of extra screen time 📱

• A trip to the park or library 🌳

• Picking the family movie 🎬

🧠 A Few Extra Tips:

• Stay consistent, but flexible—life happens, and not every day will be perfect.

• Talk about feelings—acknowledge their frustration or discouragement without trying to “fix” it right away.

• Involve them in planning—ask what kind of goals and rewards they would enjoy. This gives them ownership. 📝

Creating the mindset that their effort will lead to success is critical in every aspect of your child’s life, not just in academics. Consistent effort in particular is the key to your child’s future. Keeping them motivated isn’t always easy, to be sure. At Eardley Education Solutions, we’re ready to help.   

Ready to Get Started?

We’re here to answer any questions you might have and to show you how our Student Success Coordinators can make a difference in your child’s education. Contact us today, and let’s work together to create a bright future for your child—without the stress.