smart kid working on homework

5 Tips to Motivate a Smart Kid Who Is Lazy

Your child is skipping their homework for the third time this week in favor of tablet time. Sound familiar?

You’re not the only one. Research shows that 40% of high school students are disengaged and feel unmotivated.

Laziness in kids is a common issue, but what can you do about it? A lot, as it turns out.

Here are a few tips on how to motivate a lazy child to help you get your little one back on track.

1. Don’t Assume Laziness Is the Issue

Whether it’s getting your child to clean up their room, take out the trash, or sit down and do their homework, seeing your young one skirt around responsibilities can be frustrating. Understandably, you might see laziness as the underlying issue.

Yet in many cases, it isn’t laziness at all that’s to blame.

Your child could be anxious about something or might not feel challenged. A lack of motivation is also a key symptom of ADHD and ADD.

So don’t assume that your child doesn’t care. Instead, rule out some other possibilities and make sure their motivation issues aren’t caused by something else.

2. Start a Direct Dialogue

You love your child and want the best for them, but by labeling them as ‘lazy’ you risk alienating them. Since that’s the last thing you want to do, you should instead go straight to the source.

Next time you’re spending time together, bring up the issue in a loving and caring way. Ask them why they have such a tough time with whatever task is bothering them.

An important note: your tone matters.

Remember that you should come from a place of love, not frustration. If your child feels that they may get in trouble, they’ll only tell you what you want to hear.

3. Work with Them to Overcome the Problem

Lack of motivation is a problem to tackle together. Let your little one know that you’re here to help!

For starters, come up with a daily routine. Kids run on structure, so having a set time to take care of chores or finish up homework each day can work wonders.

You can also sit down and help them with their homework. Not only will this ensure that the work gets done, but it makes for wonderful bonding time.

What matters most is that you’re involved. Use a flashcard maker to help them prepare for an upcoming test. Or sit down together to write that book report that’s been looming for weeks.

It’ll make a world of difference.

4. Set a Good Example

At the end of the day, kids learn to emulate their parents. Think carefully about the example you’re setting.

Let your child see you tackle difficult tasks firsthand. More importantly, show them how good it feels to knock a project off of your to-do list or relax after a hard day of work.

Showing the reward is as important as demonstrating the work itself.

5. Facilitate Their Interests

Hobbies are great ways for kids to express creativity, relieve stress, and learn more about the world around them. Work your child’s hobbies into tasks to make them more approachable.

If you can’t get your child to stop playing Fortnite or Minecraft, don’t get frustrated, get creative. Turn chores into a game by granting XP for each task completed.

Incorporating elements of things they love into everyday tasks makes them more approachable and even, yes, fun.

How to Motivate a Lazy Child

As we wrap things up, it’s important to note that you can’t expect change to occur overnight. Your child didn’t lose their motivation in a day, so gaining it back won’t be an instantaneous change either.

Be patient, and above all else, be loving.

Looking for more advice on how to motivate a lazy child? Just want more parenting tips in general? Keep checking back with our blog for more awesome advice.

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