For many parents, motivating a child to spend more time studying can feel like an exercise in futility. From electronic distractions to schedules that are filled with sports practices and other extracurricular activities, finding the time and motivation to study can be challenging even for academically inclined students. These tips can help parents encourage their children to spend a reasonable amount of time each day on their studies.

Maintain a Positive Attitude
Even when a child is not up to a parent’s level of expectation, parents can do a world of good by maintaining an upbeat attitude. Encouragement and acknowledgement of small successes may help to motivate struggling learners.

Incorporate Structure
Children do best when they have a structured environment. For parents, this may mean creating new guidelines for activities and behaviors. A small rewards system, such as 10 minutes of social networking after 1 hour of studying may be helpful. The duration of study time can be built up as the child becomes more familiar with the household’s new routines.

No Distractions
The siren call of the smartphone is all too familiar to even the most disciplined of adults. If parents have trouble putting the phone down, they can only expect that children will have the same difficulty. Maintain a no distractions rule, with tablets and phones turned off and placed in a different room. Siblings should be given a different activity to do, such as playing quietly in their own rooms or reading a book with a parent.

Demonstrate Balance
A well-rounded child should have time allocated for studies, spending with family, socializing with friends and participating in physical activities or sports. Parents can keep this bigger picture in mind while staying current with what is going on in the child’s life.

Step By Step
For some children, studying may feel like a never-ending task. Helping a child to break down their studies into manageable tasks can boost their motivation to finish each chunk of work. Just like a book consists of words grouped into sentences, which are then grouped into paragraphs and chapters, so can study habits.

When one strategy is ineffective at motivating a child, parents should try another strategy after a few weeks. What works for one child may not work for another. Patience and fortitude can go a long way in helping a child to succeed.