How To Secretly Yet Successfully Motivate Your Child

Your child comes home with tears trickling down their face.  As your little one is screaming out in pain your heart  drops into the pit of your stomach. You are able to fight back your tears but are unable to stop those of your child. You have no idea what happened but you know one thing for sure. It won't happen again. Not to my child.

Unfortunately, the above scenario is all too common.  Kids go through rough times.  They all do. It is in these moments of darkness that their character is built. 
 
When a child is in pain many parents will shower them with words of encouragement.  You may have used phrases such as: You are faster, stronger and smarter than your problems. There is nothing you can't handle. Hold your head up.  Tomorrow will be better. Although these words are nice to hear, they won't solve the problem.  Let's face it.  When you tell a child what to do or how to feel do they typically listen? The answer would be no.  So, let’s choose a different approach. 
 
How do you do this? As a parent it is essential that you plant the seeds to your child's success. This should be done every single day. Now what do I mean by this.

Let's say your child is fearful they will fail their upcoming math test.  By planting the seeds you would ask them the following questions leading up to the exam.  After you pass your math test how would you like to celebrate OR How awesome are you going to feel when you pass your math test?! 
 
As you plant these seeds to success you are laying the loving foundation that you believe in your child.  You are asking them to picture how they will feel after they accomplish a goal they never thought was attainable.  As you can see, the parent isn't nagging nor are they putting pressure on the child. They are simply asking positive questions that garner positive answers.  Reality is perception.  If we are constantly being told we can accomplish our goals we will quickly believe we can.    

In the words of Confucius," he who says he can and he who says he can't are both right".  This just makes sense. Your child can fail their test as easily as they can pass it. The only thing getting in their way is themselves.  When you eliminate your child's fear of failing you are replacing it with the excitement of winning. Now get to work!  You have seeds to plant!.