We all want to motivate our teens to do their best in school. But research suggests that some things simply don’t work very well. Here are some things to avoid:
~Unearned praise.
~Fear, threats and punishment. (“If you don’t get at least a B on this test, there will be no TV for a month.”)
~Overly simplified statements. (“No guts, no glory.”)
~Name-calling, nagging, blaming or placing guilt. (“You’re lazy and you’ll never get into college if you don’t straighten up.”)
~Comparisons between siblings. (“Your brother always brought home A’s. What’s wrong with you?”)
~Making excuses for failure. (“That teacher doesn’t like you.”)
~Expecting too much or too little. (“Oh, well, I was never any good in math either.”)
Source: Donald R. Grossnickle, Helping Students Develop Self-Motivation: A Sourcebook for Parents and Educators, National Association of Secondary School Principals.
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