Do any of these stories ring a bell?
- "I can't get Asher to do anything. He doesn't care about school work, or anything else. I knew puberty changes things, but I wasn't expecting this!"
- "Caroline won't write. She twirls the pencil around, stares into space, and within 30 seconds is talking to whoever is around. Is there anything I can do?"
- "Bart rushes through his homework, not caring how many answers he gets right, so he can read science fiction. I'm glad he likes to read, but..."
It's hard to motivate some kids. Adults too, for that matter. That's why highly regarded social critic Daniel Pink has invested the last several years examining academic studies of motivation. Pink recorded his findings in a new book called Drive that turns much of what we thought we knew about motivation on its head.
For example, did you know:
- Paying children for doing chores actually decreases their motivation to help?
- Telling children, "You're so smart" can actually cause them to stop taking risks?
- The fear of loss can change attitudes in the short term, but almost always backfires when it comes to long term behavior?
Motivation is a fascinating and huge subject. We've gone deep down that rabbit hole at PTBI because of our new projects helping Christian educators. But what is the bottom line for parents and teachers?
It comes down to Type X and Type I
Type X stands for "extrinsic motivation." Think rewards and punishments. Carrot and stick. Extrinsic motivation usually starts with the sentence, "If you do this, then I will do this for you (or to you)."
Type I stands for "intrinsic motivation," as in tapping into peoples' gifting, giving freedom to work in a way that fits that gifting, and helping them feel appreciated and understood as they live out their design.
Obviously a certain number of things will always be if/then equations: if you don't work then you won't get paid...if you drive the speed limit then you will not get a speeding ticket...and so forth.
But when it comes to preparing kids for living as inspired stewards of their God-given design, "if/then" motivation can actually remove the drive to succeed. Based on his research into motivation, Pink suggests several ways to prime the pump of motivation in kids:
- Have a FedEx day. Pink takes his inspiration from Atlassian, a company that regularly sponsors FedEx days (as in, delivered anywhere in 24 hours). For a whole 24 hour period people are given the freedom to work on whatever they want, as long as it produces something of value. Atlassian find that such days produce their best innovations because people can focus on problems they think needed to be solved, rather than just their assigned work.
- Pink: "Set aside an entire school day (or a family vacation day) and ask kids to come up with a problem to solve or a project to tackle. In advance, help them collect the tools, information, and supplies they might need. Then let them have at it. The next morning, ask them to deliver--by reporting back to the class or the family on their discoveries and experiences."
- Pink: "Set aside an entire school day (or a family vacation day) and ask kids to come up with a problem to solve or a project to tackle. In advance, help them collect the tools, information, and supplies they might need. Then let them have at it. The next morning, ask them to deliver--by reporting back to the class or the family on their discoveries and experiences."
- Try DIY report cards. DIY stands for "do it yourself." The goal is to try and find out what success looks like from the child's perspective.
- Pink: "At the beginning of a semester, ask students to list their top learning goals. Then, at the end of the semester, ask them to create their own report card along with a one- or two-paragraph review of their progress. Where did they succeed? Where did they fall short? What more do they need to learn?"
- Pink: "At the beginning of a semester, ask students to list their top learning goals. Then, at the end of the semester, ask them to create their own report card along with a one- or two-paragraph review of their progress. Where did they succeed? Where did they fall short? What more do they need to learn?"
- Give them an allowance and some chores--but don't combine them. Combining money and chores motivates kids to only be helpful when there's moolah on the line.
- Pink: "By linking money to the completion of chores, parents turn an allowance into an 'if-then' reward. This sends kids a clear (and clearly wrongheaded) message: In the absence of a payment, no self-respecting child would willingly set the table, empty the garbage, or make her own bed."
- Pink: "By linking money to the completion of chores, parents turn an allowance into an 'if-then' reward. This sends kids a clear (and clearly wrongheaded) message: In the absence of a payment, no self-respecting child would willingly set the table, empty the garbage, or make her own bed."
- Offer praise...the right way. Praise effort and strategy (not intelligence), make praise specific, and praise in private.
- Pink: "Kids who understand that effort and hard work lead to mastery and growth are more willing to take on new, difficult tasks...Tell them specifically what they've done that's noteworthy....Praise is feedback--not an award ceremony."
- Pink: "Kids who understand that effort and hard work lead to mastery and growth are more willing to take on new, difficult tasks...Tell them specifically what they've done that's noteworthy....Praise is feedback--not an award ceremony."
- Help kids see the big picture. Regularly offer explanations for how what is being learned ties into other things of value.
- Pink: "In education systems tilted toward standardized tests, grades, and 'if-then' rewards, students often have no idea why they're doing what they're doing. Turn that around by helping them glimpse the big picture. Whatever they're studying, be sure they can answer these questions: Why am I learning this? How is it relevant to the world I live in now?"
What Have You Found that Works?
What insights have you gained from your experience in motivating kids? I'd love to get your feedback below. It's easy to share comments and interact with others about what really works!
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