Believe it or not, we are on our final key. The time has moved rapidly. I hope that you have really been working on motivating your kids to ACTION. It takes consistency to create a habit, but once it is formed, it is hard to break. So, imagine that your kids have a habit of getting their chores done without being told, or doing their homework without a reminder. Now that most of the kids have gone back to school, it is important to establish a routine that will help keep the motivation going. We want a clean house, kids excited to go to school and making good enough grades to get on the honor roll. Is that too much to want? Of, course not. Let’s look at the last key and review a bit of the action plan.
If I Have to Tell You One More Time...6 Keys to Motiviating Your Children
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
The first five keys are Accountability, Challenge, Rewards, Importance/Relevant and Opportunity for Growth. The sixth and final key is Novelty/New. In other words, keep things new and fresh. How does this work? Let’s first take a look at some of the masters who are at the top of their game. We will start with McDonalds. There is a lot to be learned from their system.
McDonald’s has cornered the market when it comes to advertising and branding their product. According to information shared at the Conference for Advertising and Promoting to Kids, the fast food giant spends $600 million per year on advertising. That’s not hard to believe. Think of how many commercials, billboards, fliers, marketing pieces that you come across on a weekly basis that advertise the golden arches.
Let’s examine their system. The company has been in existence since 1954, when the McDonald brothers had the clever idea to sell 15 cents hamburgers fast. Since that time they have continued to thrive in every since of the word. But how have they maintained their dominance? What continues to motivate people to buy their burgers? For the past several decades, the taste of their hamburger has pretty much stayed the same. So what’s the hook? What are they advertising for $600 million dollars? It is the motivational concept of newness. When something is new, you feel compelled to try and buy.
Think of all the types of foods that have been added to the menu over the years. The
McRibb, McChicken, sundae’s, dipped cone, McMuffins, and the now the latest health craze with salads and fruit cups. And you have to know that it is no accident that the happy meal toys change every 2-3 weeks and keep in line with the last movie trend or toy craze.
Just think about it, we like anything that is new. The car industry is also very aware that new cars motivate us. That’s why each year there is a brand new model from every company to select from. Sometimes the changes are as minor as adding a new style of headlights or adding a larger bumper. It’s just enough so that you will notice the changes and visibly see that it is a new model.
According to Idea Integration, Modis Professional Services (NYSE:MPS), General Motors has a 2.88 billion annual advertising budget. While many of us can’t count to a billion, General Motors spends almost three times the amount to advertise their latest brands and models. Well advertising does work.
Observe the pattern of what happens when you buy your new car. You love the smell and it looks and feels great. You want everyone to look inside at all the latest gadgets and listen to the sounds of your six-speaker stereo. You are very careful where you park to avoid unwanted door dings and vow that no one will eat food in your car. The same happens when it comes to motivation. You have to keep the ideas new and fresh.
Change the Scenery
Contrary to popular belief, I believe that change is good. I know it is one of the hardest things for adults to adapt to. I would venture to say that there are several thousand programs, books and other material that is offered to help people adapt change. Why is it so difficulty to accept change, want change, and embrace change? Without getting too in-depth about the psychological indications, we can just say that the natural tendency is to be drawn to what makes you feel comfortable.
There is a certain comfort level when you get used to a routine and can anticipate what will happen. On the flip side of that coin, routines and sameness, does little to enhance motivation. Activities that increase intrinsic motivation are:
• Complex
• Novel
• Unpredictable
• Challenging
These indicators are a far cry from routines or sameness. Changing up the wording in your written goals, adding new twist to the rules and guidelines, and changing the types of rewards that are given to your kids will serve to increase motivation.
The Plan
Okay, now that you have been introduced to all of the keys and we have an understanding about motivation and how it works, let’s put it into action. I will briefly list the approach. In the book, an entire chapter is devoted to the step-by-step process of making the plan work for you. It is so important to sit down and design a plan for you’re your family. So often, we fail to plan for life and we just wait for things to happen, or go with the flow. Well, let me reiterate, motivation is not something that just happens. You have to think through the process and really come up with the goals that you want for your children in terms of life skills and work ethics.
Recommended Process
Goal Setting
In order to effectively implement the plan, there are series of steps that must take place. Before you begin, write down at least three goals that you have for your children. For example, three of the goals that I have set for my children are
1. Learn how to follow instructions
2. Learn self – control and self –discipline
3. Learn good decision making skills
We have several others, but for example purposes, we will use those three. Having established your goals, helps you know what direction you are heading and what results that you desire in the end. It will also help facilitate your family discussion when you sit down and meet with your children.
Responsibility chart
The next step is creating your job responsibilities. It is important that you write out what, chores you want done and what each person responsibilities include when it’s their turn for that chore. You can also give a title to each of the rooms where they have to do chores. For instance, we give a title to the name each of the rooms that we want cleaned, (example, Bathroom Monitor, Kitchen Monitor, Family room Monitor).
The Training
So you have your goals and now the training starts. Call a family meeting to sit ad discuss your new plans and direction. Share the goals that you have created for them and establish your expectations. Give each child a copy of the job chart that list the rooms to be cleaned and the responsibilities that come with each one. Go over in detail what is to be completed before the room is considered cleaned.
Chore checklist
• All Dishes loaded in dishwasher
• Table cleaned and wiped
• Counters cleaned and wiped
• Floor swept
• Trashed emptied
Next, is the actual hands-on training. Take your children to each of the rooms and demonstrate to them what it means to load the dishwasher. Actually clean off the table and counter and wipe them down. Let each child have a turn at wiping the counter, handling the broom and so on. Even though it may sound elementary, it is so often one of the missing elements in life, show me how!
There are other elements of the plan that I would encourage you to review in the book, as well as sample charts and items that will help to ensure your success of motivating your kids, decreasing stress in your home and increasing family and “me” time. There is also a kit that contains everything you need in order to effectively implement the program. Once again, I would love to hear about your success. Send me a message at www.DrGladney.com. Remember, you hold the power to change your life.
Until we meet again, Stay motivated!
