What is the best way to motivate a kid to get good grades?

Question

I have a daughter who isa junior in High school (started today) who is a very bright kid and she doesn't seem to understand the importance of good grades in order to get into college. (I am low income and can not give her money). I guess she thinks it's more fun to be cool or spend her evenings on MYSPACE. I know it is her decision and her consequences, but if there was some way of motivating her I would feel better about it.

Answer 1

You want her to realize why she has to go to college, so what I suggest is that you find a member of you community that is a successful college student that your daughter can email once a week. Having a mentor is one of the most proven ways of guaranteeing high grades.

Then get her involved in sports or some other physical activity. Most coaches have a rule that you have to have a certain GPA to play. Even if they don't, playing sports will make her more invested in her future.

Email her teachers to introduce yourself and say that any encouragement they could give your daughter and any feedback they could give you about her would be appreciated. No one wants their mom talking to their teacher. If she is succeeding there will be only good things to say, and that will make her work harder.

Finally, don't bribe her, but reward her. Tell her because school is starting she only gets 1 hour of TV or 1 hour of Internet a day. Tell her that for every A she gets you will give her 10 more minutes of Internet or TV a day. That should motivate her!

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Yeh, puberty suddenly changes your perspective on the world.

She can't see the future yet, she can't imagine what she'll be doing after school. She's probably thinking the most important thing right now is to fit in socially and studying is not cool.

I remember my mum was strict as anything on me, and it didn't kill me. In fact I'm all the more grateful now.
Yes, restrict her internet time, until she has done her homework. Reward her for good marks on tests or when she gets awards, show her how proud u r, this kind of counter balances the restrictions.
Maybe point out some intelligent celebs or some people with good jobs and r cool, and show her that it takes a little work to get there.

Answer 3

My kid is 22, never liked school but is now an RN. Who knew? Each child is different so, there is no sure-fire way to accomplish this. At your daughter's age, if she cares, she does and if she doesn't, she just doesn't. You have to care a LOT because it ultimately becomes more work and time consuming for you and believe it or not, sometimes it only gets harder going into high school. Definitely, enforce homework time before MYSPACE. Check over her work, visit the school to make sure of the assignments, and punish when it's not done correctly, on time. I think you have to show them that education is important to you. Maybe go back to school yourself or just take a class (language or something), or just start reading in your "spare time." (whatever that is, right?) It may not take right away, but down the line, you'll see that it did get in.

Answer 4

Make the amount of time she can spend on the internet dependent on her GPA, like a scale (i.e. if she has a 4.0, she can spend unlimited time, 3.5 = 2 hours per day, etc etc). Make an agreement with her, sign a contract. Stick to it if she falters until her grades come up. If she is unreasonably refusing to sign the contract (some haggling is to be expected), remove the internet access completely until she agrees.

You can use this line, "If school is easy, then this GPA shouldn't be a problem for you, right?" You can reward her too, at will. Just don't put it in the contract.

Answer 5

I say with some of the things they really want. Most of the time that is money, or shopping. Let them know that with a good education these are some of the rewards. That helped me when I was a kid. Then eventually I just got used to doing what I needed to do anyway.

Answer 6

my son pays his kids for every A they bring home on their grade card....but you might tell her if she starts doing better in school than playing on the computer then you will get her something she really wants....you could also tell her if she does not get good grades then the computer is off limits too...i just read the part about low income...i would then just take away something she likes until she brings her grades up...she needs to think of her future and good grades can only help her...so tell her that you are thinking about her best interest...and if she wants to make something out of herself she should see things your way...i know it is harder when they get that old...i would not force the issue into a argument or anything....that is kind of pushing her away...

Answer 7

SET THE RULES!! make them very clear.

but this is important. tell her...

that as well as doing homework and getting good grades (which feels great also) she can also party and still have fun. life is a balance of the too. and also people just wont respect you if you dont have a decent education or aleast a really good talent (dont tell her that part).

if she doesnt want it that way then she can have the tradtional parent who wont allow any of it. let her choose NOW. you are in control.

Answer 8

I would just keep ontop of her. Limit her time on the computer and reward her for her efforts. Study with her every night and tell to explain everything that she did that day in school so that it is a combined effort. Once she sees how involved you are it will be difficult for her not to pay attention. If that doesnt work have a meeting with her and her teachers and voice your concerns.

Answer 9

grades , yes , it matters, but a child can perform only to his ability, if he or she is underperforming just say that he or she is not performing to his or her ability. IN case of u r daughter , motivation should come from ur economic position tell her that u are working so hard to get her best of the world and in return what u expect from her is lots of love and sincere effort to perform to best of her ability !!!

Answer 10

i think of action talk louder than words. infants do no longer pay interest to us presently they learn by utilising trial and blunder. Take your baby out to a city it is far less fortunate and holiday around and detect. communicate on your baby approximately selections and what what one he/she desires to make. factor out that we make stable selections in existence and undesirable ones. And a reliable educations is the beginning up of arising stable selections. Take your baby to a homeless shelter, so he could have a photo of ways selections in existence make one among those impression on what we grow to be and the place we are able to circulate. Then make the factor that mommy and daddy cant stay consistently to help them out consistently they are going to at some point ought to stand on their very very own.