Reading, Writing & Harry Potter: Motivating Children by Celebrating Their Interests

How can parents and homework compete with Harry Potter and PlayStation? The simple answer is that they can’t compete. However, parents can use these hot trends to motivate children to learn more and, in the process, teach their children skills that will transfer to their classroom learning.

Because studies show that the average child spends three to five hours a day watching television, it may seem there is not much extra time for educational activities at home. Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, has developed several techniques to turn the things children enjoy into opportunities to promote additional learning.

The first step for you, as a parent, is to identify what gets your child excited and to learn about it yourself. Read the hot children’s books, play your child’s favorite video games and listen to music together. In short, learn about the toys, games and activities that dominate your child’s world. Then, look for creative ways to add an educational component to your child’s favorite activities.

For example, if your child can’t get enough of Harry Potter, ask her to identify locations from the books on a map – do they exist or are they fictional? Or, encourage him to find a pen pal in England to compare his or her life and everyday activities with one of Harry’s country mates. Since magic spells are a big part of the series, ask your child to create with her own spells to see if they really work.

Games can also reinforce school lessons. When children play with dominoes, have them calculate the total value of the points. They may not even notice they are putting math lessons to work. Games can also help sharpen a child’s categorization skills.

Science is just as easy to incorporate into everyday activities. Ask your child to calculate the distance of a scooter ride. Compare the speed of a downhill ride versus an uphill ride. Research other methods of transportation and the scientific explanation of balance and speed. Search the Internet with your child for science-related Web sites that might help to uncover the science behind a favorite sport. Find out how the speed of a baseball pitch affects the hitter’s ability to hit a home run, or why a football is shaped differently than a soccer ball.

Yes, even Jordin Sparks and The Cheetah Girls have lessons to teach. Your child’s favorite music stars can be avenues for self-expression. By memorizing lyrics or even writing their own, children can learn the importance of the written and spoken word. They can research the artists’ background and find out what it takes to make a CD.

Parents can combine these enjoyable activities with the basics of motivating a child – goal-setting, rewards and reinforcement. Plan out activities and assignments with your child. Determine together the steps of the process and when the assignment will be finished. Provide the tools to complete the task. For larger projects, Sylvan recommends that you offer mini-rewards throughout the process to keep your child motivated to see it through. Rewards can be as simple as a pat on the back or an ice cream cone. When the project is complete, review it together and congratulate your child on a job well done. You can even present your child with a handmade certificate of achievement. Share your child’s success with other family members – nothing makes your child feel better than to “overhear” you singing his or her praises to someone.

All of the skills learned through these activities will translate into the classroom by reinforcing geography, analytical, comprehension, reading and research skills. By joining in your child’s fun, you’ll also demonstrate that learning takes place everywhere and that it is enjoyable. As an added benefit, you might even learn something along the way!