5 Steps to Getting Your Kids to Study During the Lockdown Holidays

The Brownie (7 years old): My summer holidays have started. No more studying! Yay!

That Creature (i.e. this blogger): I'm sorry. But we have never NOT studied during the summer holidays. You're going to forget how to read and write and add and subtract if you're not going to study. And then I'll be forced to ask the school to keep you back in the second grade next year.

The Pixie (10 years old - always the responsible one): Yeah, Brownie! Remember that we study for an hour everyday in the summer, anyway?

The Husband: Ahem! Not an hour this time. You guys have begun your holidays way too early. Technically you haven't finished school yet. So day-long studying which includes piano practice, drawing and reading a story. 

(Lots of groaning and moaning.)

Okay. Here's the deal. You guys want gear cycles, don't you?

The Fairies (a.k.a. The Pixie and The Brownie combined): Yes!

The Husband: Great! Well, you're going to have to earn it. For each subject book you complete, and each story you read, and every five pieces you learn, you get a certain amount for your cycles.

And so began my sons' journey through lockdown study time. 

It works! The Fairies don't grumble about study-time. They are excited and sincere about earning that amount, and The Husband is particular about totalling the amount earned at the end of the week, and filling in their piggy-banks with real cash. 

So, here's a step-by-step lowdown and how this was done. 

Step 1: Give the Kids a Reason to Stay Motivated

In this case, The Pixie and The Brownie have been speaking about gear cycles for nearly two years now, and so this was a good motivator to get them to pick up their books without any poking and prodding. 

Step 2: Help the Kids Visualise their Goal

The Husband drew them their cycles and discussed every single part of the cycle, guessing at how much each part is likely to cost. Thus, the boys are able to say at the end of the week:

"Yay! I've earned a whole wheel!"

"Yay! I'm nearly done earning the seat! If I just finish this and this and this and this next week, I'll have the whole seat earned!"

It keeps them excited!

Step 3: Break their Main Goal Down into Smaller Achievable Units

Where the gear cycles are concerned, the smaller achievable units are their earning them one part at a time. The Husband has given them a rough estimate like so:

1 wheel = 2,000/-

another wheel = 2,000/-

the seat = 1,500/-

etc., etc. ...

Also, the completion of each book or task has been assigned a certain amount that they earn.

Step 4: Give them Smaller Rewards that Lead Up to the Big Reward

The Pixie drew up a table for himself and his brother and keeps a meticulous account every day!

At the end of every week, The Fairies earn ickle bits of cash that they get to physically handle and personally push into their money boxes. 

Step 5: Keep Your Promise and Do Everything You Can to Help Them Achieve that Goal

Let's get real. We know the gear cycle is going to cost way more than we've set it up to be. But, we want The Fairies to study and they want a cycle. So, naturally we're going to be putting the extra cash in once their holidays are over. 

How is it working so far, Creature?

Quite well, actually!

• We're all productively busy during the day.
• We don't have to be after the boys all the time. (I must admit they do have those occasional days of rebellion when they want the whole day off. But we let them off the hook on all weekends.)
• The Fairies are NEVER bored! Play time is absolutely cherished.

Remember: Make it a Win-Win Situation for Everyone Involved then Everyone is Happy!

Signing out until the next post,
That Creature