Parent / Child

If you reward your children for doing their homework, they will usually respond by getting it done. But is this the most effective method of motivation? It seems that traditional thinking maps out that this method actually works against performance.

The best way to motivate people at school, at work, or at home is to support their sense of autonomy. A task is important when allowing as much personal freedom as possible in carrying out the task; this will stimulate interest and commitment, and is a much more effective approach than the standard system of reward and punishment. In schools and the workplace choice is important. Naturally, students must read, but why not let the group decide what to read. And why not let them talk about how to make the decision by majority, by consensus, or by committee. The process of decision making is itself an important matter to learn about. Curriculum could also be built into the class schedule for students to decide individually what to work on, finishing their math assignment or reading another book by an author they like. There are tasks that have to be accomplished on the job, in the home, and there are subjects that have to be collaborated on in the classroom.

But there is almost always some room for students and children to feel freedom and fulfilling the love, sharing, and cooperation of others. Allowing choice about what to do has several possible advantages.