How to Help my Teen who is Unmotivated in School

It can be tough to watch your teen struggle academically, especially when motivation seems to be the root of the problem. A lack of motivation in school can cause your teen to fall behind, get frustrated and start to shut down. It's important to take the time to help your teen get back on track and get motivated in school.

Here are some tips on how to help your unmotivated teen become more motivated in school:

1. Talk to your teen: Take the time to actively talk with your teen and discuss their school performance, their goals and their frustrations. This conversation is important in order to find out what’s really going on and how you can help.

2. Set goals and expectations: Setting goals and expectations can be a great way to help motivate your teen in school. Working with your teen to create achievable goals and expectations can help them stay on top of their schoolwork and ultimately help them achieve the end goal.

3. Be a positive role model: It’s important to be a positive role model for your teen. Show them that hard work and education can lead to success. If you have children who are older than your teen, talk about how their academic efforts paid off in the long run.

4. Provide rewards and incentives: Rewarding positive behavior can be a great way to help get your teen motivated. Find incentives that you can both agree on, whether it’s a dinner out for getting an A on a test or tickets to a concert for completing a project early.

5. Encourage and assist your teen with creating a study schedule, finding a study group or a study partner, minimizing distractions while studying, using positive self-talk and visualization, getting enough sleep and exercise regularly, breaking down large tasks into smaller manageable steps, seeking help from teachers and tutors, staying organized and keeping track of assignments and due dates.

5. Get help: Consider talking to a school counselor or other professional who can help you and your teen find a way to get them motivated. Your teen's counselor can provide insight on suggestions and school supports available to help your teen increase their motivation.