A question about kids and grades for parents only.?

Question

How do I instill in my kids an INTRINSIC desire to do well in school?
They are 13 and 14. One wants to be a doctor or veterinarian, the other wants to get into a very competitive university. I've preached and preached to them that in order for them to realize thier desires they must do well in school NOW. It's to no avail.
They are great kids, I couldn't ask for better. I'm just concerned that they're flushing thier future down the toilet. Please help.

Answer 1

Tell them they will end up asking "do you want fries with that" instead of going to college. I tell my kids that all the time. All three are on the honor roll every semester. I worked in factory for 13 years and just recently went back to college. They have seen first hand how important their education is.

Answer 2

Okay, I know that this said parents only but I read the question and it sounds like me. I am 13 years old and want to be either a neurosurgeon or a veterinarian. I either want to go to Stanford or Harvard if I become a neurosurgeon and Cornell or Texas A and M if I become a Veterinarian. Have them look at the websites for the colleges they want to go to. And show them that only a small percentage gets into the colleges and that they all have very good grades. The colleges start looking at your grades in 9th grade and maybe that will motivate them. I know it motavated me to start doing a lot better in school. I'm now in 4th place for my district spelling bee and on the honor roll almost the high honor roll and in a lot of honor classes. The one that wants to be a vet or doctor have them job shaddow and then talk to the vet/doctor that they do job shaddow about their grades and how hard they had to study and work to become a doctor/vet. Good luck.

Answer 3

One of the best peices of advise I got a while ago was from a well known author and financial counselor. Your kids should have an allowance based on performance, which is the same as you get from your job. If they don't do thier job, they don't get paid. just like you... If your kids truly want to go to college, they will need your help. An ESA funded by thier parents is the best way to fund thier college, and you can fund that based on thier performance also.
They will only take there grades seriously if you take them seriously. 13 and 14 is the perfect age to instill and teach a child the adulthood is real...

Answer 4

For the child who wants to be a doctor or vet: Let him or her know that less than 10% of all students who go to undergraduate school (first four years of college) with the intention of pursuing a doctorate wind up with one.... and only half of those pass state exams to practice medicine. (S)he needs to gain all the study skills and knowledge s/he can beginning RIGHT now to be as competitive as possible.

For the child wanting to go to a competitve university: Go to http://www.collegeboard.com or http://www.princetonreview.com and look up the university. Click on the link that provides information about the freshman class (it may be a button on the main page for the school about "students" or "admissions" or "freshman class profile"). Many competitive universities will not release this information, and if not, click on "SATs" for a piece of info all but Harvard and Yale supply: the median SAT scores. Then find some statistics about the average SAT score nationally or, if possible, in your area. Explain that a student needs to walk into this test with as much knowledge and as many skills as humanly possible to get a competitive score. Additionally, while the most competitive universities do not release their freshman class profiles, an average of 92% of incoming freshmen are in the top 10% of their graduating class, and the other 8% are in the top quarter... except of course the few individuals with AMAZING alumni relations.

Answer 5

My son (14) sees his future life in some kind of sport - perhaps physiotherapy, coaching or sports science. For his "work experience" day, I took him to my gym. He realised, after talking to real people doing the job, that there was a lot more to it than just being good at sport - you also needed management shills, financial awareness, HR etc etc etc.

To my amazement, his grades (and behaviour) at school have been improving ever since, because he has realised that he needs to buckle down. It is something a parent cannot point out.

Answer 6

ok i know i'm not a parent but, dont overreact!!!!! my friend made a C in multi-media on her progress report (it doesnt even count toward anthing since its not a report card) nd her mom took away EVERY thing, the only thing she left was a matterass. this is OVERREACTION..... she is now feeling very rebellious and skipped 2 classes!!! now i am not against you because i luf school... i know that if i dont get a scholorhips to pay 4 college, i'm not going.there for i cant fuffill my dream of becoming a doctor!!!! i also find education fun..... hope i help-ed

Answer 7

Well, what grades are they making? Talk to them everyday! Use a reward system! My first grader makes straight A's and now writes in cursive(his private school teaches cursive that young) and he wants to do well, because evry report card time I brag on him and tell him how proud I am and buy him an x-box game for a reward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He strives to do well, because I tell him how proud I am of him!!!!!! I do beleive in a reward for the hard work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise them and do not nag! Make them know it is serious, but make it fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The grades have to be good early on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bad grades follow them!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

alright, what my parents did worked wonders. they told me that if i didn't do well in school i would be doing fast food the rest of my life, that i would be doing physical labor for a job i hate. I recommend maybe, depending on how far you want to go that you take away things like tv or ipod or whatever they have and tell them that if they do not do well in school then they won't have money to buy things like that. it will work. i hope this helps tremendously. i believe that everyone deserves a good education. good luck!

Answer 9

Threaten to go to school with them. It always worked for me and my sister.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, you're both right and wrong. They will have to do well to get through "the system," but pressurized learning is wrong in principle, and generally detrimental for them.