All people, whether they are children or adults, need a motivation to do things. This motivation is the energy, the passion, the engine that pushes to carry out or sustain an action or conduct. In children, seeking this motivation is essential because it is the force that leads them to explore, discover and learn. Parents and educators must accompany the little ones in this process, enhancing their motivation. But how to do it?
Usually, to motivate, there has been a tendency to reinforce behaviors through rewards or punishments. But both one and the other must be used in their proper measure since their excess can harm children.
Extrinsic motivation is one that is characterized because the person does something to obtain an external reward, or does not do it to avoid punishment. The task or activity is a means to achieve something else. It would be, for example, when a child helps to set the table because he is promised that if she does, he will have a dessert.
Intrinsic motivation is one in which the person does something for the mere pleasure of doing it. The activity is an end in itself and by doing it, the person feels satisfaction, confidence and feels autonomous. It would be, for example, making a drawing for the pleasure of doing it.
When children are motivated through rewards and punishments, extrinsic motivation is reinforced and it will be what comes next that motivates the child to do or not do something. This reinforcement can be used from time to time, but it should not be the only one. When children receive gifts every two for three without clear cause, it is difficult to motivate them. Likewise, praise must be proportional to the effort they have made because if they are used excessively, they lose their effect.
It is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the child and adapt the goals to be achieved so that they are realistic. If you set difficult goals, you don't get greater motivation, but just the opposite, since it makes you a world and in the end you give up. It is preferable to set tighter goals and increase the difficulty as you achieve it. Thus, when he realizes that he is exceeding goals, he will feel satisfied and motivation will increase. When it comes to educational goals, it's important to adapt to the child's learning style to help them achieve their goals.
It is the emotional reinforcement that works best, the most effective. Even so, if it is observed that the child has worked hard for a while, has achieved his goals and feels satisfaction for having achieved them, a small reward can be given. However, it should be done as a surprise. In this way the child does not make the effort to obtain that prize. By giving him this little surprise he also sees that there is a reward for the work he has done.
