Many parents feel that all they ever do is nag, lecture, ground, and yell at their teens without ever receiving any results. Whether you want them to do homework, chores, or follow household rules, motivating a teen can be a challenge. Many teens fail to be self motivated for a number of reasons. However, there are several things a parent can do to effectively gain cooperation.
When a teen struggles in school or becomes resistant to parental instruction, it is important to consider the source of the problem. While a certain degree of noncompliance may be expected from a teenager, some may have underlying issues that exacerbate this problem. Sometimes the issue may be with the teen. Low self-esteem and depression can cause a teen to be unmotivated. In this case, you may want to seek professional help for solutions.
In addition, many teens lose motivation because their parents have enabled them to do so. Adults need to hold teens accountable for their actions. Allowing them to make some of their own decisions and experience failure is part of the process of growing up. Responsibility and motivation go hand in hand. If a teen is constantly under the “control” of their parent, they may not be learning to take care of things on their own. They need to be allowed to make decisions and experience the consequences accordingly.
Often, teens are unmotivated because they simply do not care about the task at hand. Although you would like to see your teen complete their chores, your teen might not be as worried about the garbage being taken out. People in general are motivated by self interests. With teens this is especially true. Motivate teens by rewarding positive behavior with privileges and other incentives. The days of hand outs are over. Give your teen the opportunity to get what they want by earning it. Whether your teen desires to borrow the car, have extra money for school clothes, or get a new cell phone, motivating them by their self interests will help you gain their cooperation and teach them responsibility for their own actions.
