How can I motivate my teenager to learn? 5 tips for less screen time and more exercise
Can't stand your child being on their cell phone right after school? Arguing about screen time? We've all been there: the children come home from school and are immediately glued to their cell phones or consoles - and don't feel like doing any homework at first.
Not interested in homework
"I'm not in the mood for homework, it's all too exhausting, I feel too tired, I want to chill out first, leave me alone, I have to ask my friends how they do it now, I don't even know where to start ..."
I don't think I'm the only one who hears this every day :)
The dilemma: How can I help my children to come down from the stress of school after school, to let off steam - and how can I motivate them to learn without talking at them like a teacher, working them over with the tongues of angels or getting all pushy? Or - worst of all - ending up in discussions and arguments about the necessity of homework (and the point of the whole school...)?
There is a very simple solution: turn off the screen and get moving. Sounds impossible, but it's really easy - with our 5 top tips: experience-tested, proven, successful. They help children and teenagers to work out at home. And the best thing is: as parents, we can join in right away.
1. set screen time. How do I turn off my child's cell phone?
Your child's cell phone has a great function: screen time! Limiting teenagers' media consumption sounds pretty tough at first - and some parents may think: "That's impossible, my child refuses, there's no point, I keep trying, it's just discussions and arguments..."
But what really demotivates children the most is being glued to their cell phones. The step of switching to homework after an hour on the cell phone is a huge one, and for many, it's not something they can manage on their own. It's easier to turn the whole thing around: Schoolwork first, then screen. How do you do it? There is a very simple solution. Set your child's screen time and cell phone time-out correctly. The cell phone gives you all the options you need to set an adjusted screen time every day. Make use of this option - it's brilliant!
I use the parental functions on my children's cell phones very actively. This way, I have my three children's cell phones completely" under control". I have set 'quiet times' and times when they can be active for each of my daughters. I sometimes change these spontaneously if I have the feeling: My child should really get away from the cell phone now and do something else. "Activate time-out " - one click on my phone and my child's phone only has boring functions: Phone calls, calculator, weather app ... or the homework planner (the "always allow" apps).
I have set certain short (20 min!) app limits for each of their "favorite" apps (the ones with the "sticky function")(use the power function of your phone here: "Set time limits for apps"!) and the children can then, when the screen time for their favorite app has expired, ask me briefly with a click whether they can get another 15 min, 1 hr, the whole day,.... bonus time. And you then decide with a click according to your current feelings (alternatively: homework status/reward for the hard-working child...)
Extra trick: If your child is older than 13, you need to customize your child's account as a "child account" in the family function and set a screen time code (watch out! Children 'crack' this code from time to time ;-). Then you can also manage app limits and downtime for young people over 16.
I can assure you that it works wonderfully. Of course there was some protest at first, but after a while the children got used to it. In the meantime, some of them even proudly tell people that they have a lot of downtime and are not addicted to their cell phones - and actually think it's quite cool.
So that brings us to the point: The children notice - oh, my cell phone isn't working. What am I going to do now?
2. get moving! Stress reduction for children - and parents.
My tip: get moving! It's important to introduce new rituals for afternoons at home. And: exercise at home is much more effective than many people think.
Why? Sport releases endorphins - exercise increases concentration, lifts the mood, provides energy and reduces stress. Your child has an immediate sense of achievement.
No time? 15 minutes is enough. Even this relatively short physical exertion after all that sitting around at school is enough to drive the bad energy and listlessness out of your head. And there is hardly any excuse for not having these 15 minutes. It clears your head - and you're ready to concentrate again.
3. getting fit together and spending time together as a family
My third suggestion: join in yourself! This way you can build a little "quality time" with the children into the day and give them extra motivation. If you incorporate little competitions (plank challenge!), they'll make an extra effort to beat their parents. In short, doing sport together - even if it's only for 15 minutes - strengthens the bond enormously. It's worth making a ritual out of exercising together for a quarter of an hour. It may be hard at first (especially for parents) to build routines into everyday life, but the effort is doubly worthwhile. As soon as they are established, they almost run themselves - without costing any extra energy.
So, when the children come home after school, don't immediately ask: How was school? What's your homework? Instead, it's better not to say anything about school at first: First, move around together for a moment. Maybe the children will then tell you something themselves - or maybe not. In any case, you'll have a great time together and have fun. And that's much more important than the question about the math test.
4. punching bag - the perfect training partner for indoor workouts
All right, fifteen minutes of exercise - but how? From yoga to dance workouts, the possibilities are endless and it's fun to try out lots of things.
My personal insider tip: boxing! Boxing is a super effective way to get rid of frustration and tension. It provides a direct outlet for pent-up emotions and prevents uncontrolled outbursts of anger.
By training on a punching bag or with a 'sparring partner' - a sibling or parent - children and teenagers can relieve stress, let go of frustration and clear their heads. Boxing also promotes coordination, strength, stamina, responsiveness and concentration. An ideal antidote to the 'brain red' caused by too much screen time.
That's why we've designed a children's punching bag to make exercise at home even easier and more inviting.
If you are also interested in boxing at home, I recommend you take a look at these articles:
Children's boxing: Why boxing is the perfect sport for children
Punching bag for children: the ideal energy equalizer at home
5. sport in everyday life with teenagers: mini-challenges and home workouts
Mini challenges make exercising at home even more fun! Here are a few simple ideas to try out:
Do squats every time you brush your teeth
Planking is even more fun with the challenge: Who can last longer? Who can do more repetitions?
Shoot a mini movie of planking every day. My children took photos of themselves every day to document their progress. After a month, a funny time-lapse movie came out (and of course it was posted ...)
Every time you happen to walk past the punching bag in the room: hit it 10 times
Of course, there is also an endless supply of workout videos for at home on YouTube, for every target and age group. My children often squeeze two of my yoga mats next to each other in their room and do half an hour of workout or Pilates together with one of these videos - in matching workout clothes, of course.
Conclusion: Movement motivates learning
Even if it often seems unavoidable, there is actually no reason to spend every afternoon arguing about homework, school or cell phone use. With downtime, a sporty quarter of an hour and mini-challenges, children and parents get their energy back in the afternoon - not through words, but through exercise. Then the rest will (almost) work itself out.
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