Tag: psychology for kids

When you think of motivation you might think of a reward you’ve been promised if you complete your chores, a friend encouraging you to try something new, or maybe even just doing something you enjoy! Motivation is anything that makes us want to do something. Like everything else we do, motivation is controlled by the brain. Looking at how the brain works can help us understand why we love to do some things, but struggle to finish others.

Psychology of Motivation for Kids

Some of the simplest things we can be motivated to do are things that we need to do to survive, like eat and drink. Feelings of thirst or hunger drive us to eat or drink. After we have had something to eat or drink we feel satisfied which acts as an incentive for us to want to eat or drink again.

Need: something our body or brain needs to stay healthy or balanced.

Drive: something that pushes us to do something that will satisfy our need.

Incentive: something that satisfies our need or drive.

It is these needs, drives, and incentives that make up our motivation! For example if we are bored it is because our brain needs more stimulation. That feeling of boredom drives us to find something to do. The game or hobby we choose to play/ do to satisfy our boredom is our incentive.

Another example is when someone tells us we need to do something, like when we are given an assignment. When someone else tells us what we need to do sometimes it can be harder to find the drive to do it. That person’s expectations might be enough of a drive for you, but if it is not you might need help keep you on track. Your parent or guardian might create a drive by telling you that you have to do your work before you can play. Once it is finished the relief that it is done can act as an incentive, or maybe the incentive is the game you get to play now that it’s done.

How to motivate yourself with three simple steps

1. First identify what you want to motivate yourself to do. This is your need.
2. Second, figure out why you need to do that thing. This is your drive.
3. Finally figure out what kind of reward you need to complete your task. This is your incentive.

Did it work?

If you were not able to motivate yourself, revisit your plan.

You’re going to find that one or more areas of your three steps wasn’t strong enough.

Your need: The thing you want to do isn’t something that you truly feel you NEED to do. Decide if your goal truly is something that you need to dedicate so much time and effort to. If the answer is no it is ok to change your goal to suit your needs.

Your drive: You do need to meet your goal but you are still struggling to get it done. Ask yourself if your goal is something you need to do right NOW. If it isn’t ask yourself when you do need to meet your goal by. How much of your goal do you need to get started on now? That is your new goal. Set yourself due dates based on your need.

Your incentive: Your goal is something you need to do, and it’s something that is very important for you to get done now, but you are still struggling. This means that your incentive is not strong enough. Make a list of things that motivate you and figure out what you would like to work for. You might need to get a friend or family member to help you by giving them the incentive and instructing them not to give it to you until you have completed your task. 

Incentives might include something you get like a favorite food, money, or time to do a favorite game or activity, but incentives don’t have to be complicated! Sometimes simply restructuring your day can make getting your goal done more incentivizing. For instance you might simply work on your goal for 15 minutes before your evening netflix binge. 

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