1. Love for learning

Having a positive attitude towards learning plays a huge part in future success. Children begin exploring their bodies and their capabilities at a very early age. They may not know that this is “learning” but it is exactly what they are doing when they see, hear, taste and touch anything they come in contact with. Here’s what you can do to nurture their love for learning:

• Foster their interest

If your child loves cars and trucks, read stories to them on cars and trucks. Take them to a car show. When you teach them how to count or spell, weave their favourite cars or trucks in. A University of Chicago study found that the common trait among exceptionally high-achieving athletes and artists was having parents who recognised their interest and provided support during their early years.

• Make it relevant to everyday life

Learning is not just teaching our children to reach certain academic standards. It is a process, a series of “Oh I see!” moments. For example, if you want your child to learn about maths, show them how math ties to real life. Help them understand that two $10 Lego figurines cost $20 (two sets of ten rather than just memorising the multiplication table (10 x 2).

• Never shoot down their ideas

Create a safe environment to allow children to develop their ideas, express their feelings, take risks, and make choices. As parents, we wear many hats in this process. As an observer, we listen and watch. As a supporter, we accept and encourage. As a facilitator, we assist and inspire. As a role model, we demonstrate and surprise.

2. Motivation

A study revealed effective studying techniques and those who were self-driven that had the most improved math skill. So how can parents help children build internal motivation? According to Edward Deci and Richard Ryan at the University of Rochester, addressing these needs can help to build children’s intrinsic motivation.

• Competence

Being able to master a skill is extremely motivating. When children are bad at doing something, they feel embarrassed and tend to avoid these activities. Isn’t this the same for adults too?

The solution? Focus on effort and strategy. Praise children for their effort. Remind them and point out their progress of how they struggled initially and then succeed. You could say, “You used to have trouble with these kinds of problems, but now you really get them!” A simple sentence like this can empower children to feel more capable.

Next, equip them with study strategies to address skills gaps. For instance, if they always get a certain math sum wrong, find out what is the cause of the mistake instead of quickly prescribing them to more math practice. It could be a misunderstanding of a certain concept that they might need to relearn.

If your child tends to make careless mistakes or jump in without reading the instructions, show them how to circle or underline key instructions.

• Autonomy

Who likes to feel controlled? When children feel that they are being restrained, their motivation is thrown out the window. We cannot offer children total freedom, but we can minimise resistance by offering choices. Don’t overwhelm them with too many alternatives. Keep your options to just two or three.

Sometimes, children don’t understand the reason why they need to do certain things. Providing a rationale that makes sense and relates to their life might help.

For instance, if your child laments the purpose behind learning “stuff” that he’s never going to use later in his life, you can reply, “It may not seem relevant or important to you now, but it gives you a chance to practice skills that will be useful in your life in the future. For example, getting your work done on time, building your memory skills so you can learn to remember more important things.”