5 Key Mindfulness Tips – When Children Don’t Want to Attend Class

Self-motivation doesn’t come naturally to children. Even the most fun activity can be a struggle to get to when your child’s mindset is not in the right place. Understanding that, here are some strategies to help you work around lack of motivation when trying to get your child to class.

1. What your child is doing in the moment he/she is supposed to get ready for class is important to pay attention to. If he/she is having fun or playing with a friend, then be ready for a battle. Having your child participate in a chore or task that they won’t consider preferable around 10 to 15 minutes prior to getting ready for class is helpful.
   
2. Your own projection of emotions as you get your child ready for class is helpful to pay attention to. If you are aggravated, stressed, or rushed in any way, this will project the same emotions on your child. Work to project upbeat and positive energy as you are getting your child ready for class.
   
3. How do you respond to your child’s overall performance after class? If you find you are expressing too much emphasis on what he/she did wrong versus right, then those negative feelings will carry over. Work to focus more on productive conversations and to limit criticism after class.
   
4. Be intentional – Communicate your goals to your child’s instructors. The overall goal is to foster motivation. Let the instructors know about your struggles so that they can be mindful to motivate your child before, during, and after class. It takes a village to raise a child, so don’t be afraid to ask for support!
   
5. Reward your child to prompt motivation. Remember that children’s brains are still growing, and most of their development comes from positive experiences and stimulation. Pre-frame the proper behavior that you would like to see when going to class, and then set an attainable number of classes he/she must attend with this behavior, along with a reward for doing so. IE “Attend the next 3 classes with the proper behavior and we will get you ice cream on the way home.”

These tips are often overlooked, but certainly not rocket science. As parents, we sometimes forget that situations like this require attentive and intentional parenting, since we can get so caught-up in the daily grind. I hope this article sheds some positive light on how to help your child get ready for class. Good luck!