By: Sara Vazquez Shaw

Motivation is what causes people to act in certain ways. Most parents want their children to do well in school but are not sure how to motivate their children to learn.
There are two basic kinds of motivation: Intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is when a child performs an activity for its own pleasure, satisfaction or fun.

Extrinsic motivation is when a child does his work knowing they will gain a reward or avoid a punishment. Intrinsic children enjoy learning because it's fun, it's a challenge and they find pleasure in self satisfaction. On the contrary, extrinsic children will often be motivated by what their parents will offer in return for good exam results. The reward could be anything from a video-game to a trip to a favorite theme park.

Recent research shows that intrinsic children will do better at school than extrinsic children. It's important to remember that children often adopt attitudes and values from their parents. If your child sees you having fun learning a new task - whether this maybe learning a new language, learning to sew, growing your own tomatoes or cooking a special new recipe you will often find that your children will enjoy learning new tasks too.

Of course, this does not mean that intrinsic children will not ask for a reward or a little special treat, (we all like a pat on the back and a little gift) but rewards alone will not be enough to keep the child motivated. Praise and rewards should be based upon children's effort and persistence, rather than on the actual accomplishment.

Young children are naturally curious, if their explorations bring pleasure or success, they will want to learn more. During a child's early years, they form attitudes about learning that will last a lifetime. Children who receive the right sort of support and encouragement will turn into creative, self confident learners throughout their lives.

If you are a busy parent and find you lack the time to dedicate to your children through learning activities, why not consider finding a private tutor. One to one tuition not only boosts your child's academic performance but can motivate a child to enjoy the learning process. An experienced tutor can make learning fun, boost your child's self confidence and provide a lifelong attitude that will help your child succeed in many aspects of adult life.