You want the best for your child. You pray he thrives in school, is successful in life and experiences happy, positive relationships. He is a good, intelligent kid. So why does he do so well in some activities, but in others that he should not struggle to master, he struggles? Motivation can mean the difference between success and failure in a child, and finding the right style of motivation may be the answer to your problems.
What is Achievement Motivation?
When you yearn to excel in difficult endeavors, achievement is your motivation. Say your child has a project due in one class and a homework assignment in another. He currently has a high "B" average in the class with the project due, and a good grade on this project will push him to an "A." In the class with the assignment due, he has a strong "A" average. He is likely to have greater achievement motivation for the project because of his desire to earn a high enough grade to bump his class average to an "A."
Influential Factors
Although researchers disagree on what influences achievement motivation the most, they do believe you should examine each factor to determine the impact it has on your student's life. Influences may be personal, social, instructional, familial or cultural. For example, as a whole, North Americans are motivated by other people --- social factors --- whereas East Asians tend to be motivated more by intrinsic factors.
Development of Achievement Motivation
Feelings of success are the best way to develop achievement motivation. When a child has accomplished a task, she is more likely to believe in herself and work hard to accomplish a similar one. However, if the task is too easy, she might not have the motivation to complete it because it seems too boring. Setting difficult, yet attainable, goals with your child will help her develop the self-efficacy needed to be motivated to achieve in the future.
Tips for Parents
Develop a close relationship with your child. A 2001 Canadian study found strong parental relationships with children have a positive correlation with higher achievement motivation. Get involved in your child's school, and give regular feedback on assignments, chores and even recreational accomplishments. Positive feedback is necessary, but it can be harmful if used loosely. Kids are trying to learn, so be realistic. Teach them to break large tasks into smaller ones that will eventually lead to accomplishing the overall goal.
Considerations for Younger Children
According to the University of Michigan's website, preschool-aged children do not respond as well to achievement motivation as older children. Because they have not developed much experience on which to base motivation, focus should be on skill mastery. Begin at very basic levels, and do not advance the child until he has mastered the skill and developed a feeling of accomplishment. The more successful the child feels, the greater his achievement motivation will be later in life.
References
- "Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology"; Achievement Motivation in Academics; Dale H. Schunk; 2004
- "Journal of Personality Social Psychology"; Divergent Consequences of Success and Failure in Japan and North America: An Investigation of Self-Improving Motivations and Malleable Shelves; S.J. Heine, S. Kitayama, D.R. Lehman, T. Takata, E. Ide,C. Leung, et al.; 2001
- University of Michigan: Young Child Motivation
