There are two kinds of motivation: the kind that needs constant refueling, and the kind that generates its own energy. Parents often work very hard to supply the first kind, and wonder why they’re constantly running out. They offer rewards, consequences, praise, sticker charts, and incentive systems, and some of it works for a while. […]
Building Intrinsic Motivation in Kids: The Fuel That Lasts Read More »
Every child is born curious. Watch a two-year-old exploring a kitchen cabinet or examining an insect on the sidewalk and you’ll see it: an innate drive to understand, to figure out how things work, to discover what happens when you try something. The question for parents is not how to install curiosity in their children.
Encouraging Curiosity in Kids: The Habit That Makes Everything Else Easier Read More »
Most parents want their kids to succeed. But when you ask what that actually means, the answers get complicated fast. Good grades? A prestigious career? Financial security? The problem with those definitions is that they focus on outcomes rather than the qualities that actually produce them. Research in developmental psychology has identified a set of
8 Traits of Successful Kids (And How to Cultivate Every One of Them) Read More »
The phrase “high achieving kids” tends to conjure a specific image: a student with perfect grades, a packed extracurricular schedule, a string of awards, and a path pointed toward an elite university. This is not quite what the research has in mind — and the confusion between the image and the reality is responsible for
How to Raise High Achieving Kids: A Research-Based Guide Read More »
A $20 bill for every A. $10 for a B. Nothing for a C. It’s a deal parents have been making with kids for generations — and one that researchers and educators have been studying, debating, and questioning just as long: should kids be paid for good grades? Paying kids for grades is one of
Should Kids Be Paid for Good Grades? What the Research Says and What Actually Works Read More »
