So your kid comes back from school exhausted, and they have a pile of homework, projects, and self-study waiting to get done. But what do they do? They instead pick up their device or waste their precious time doing something unnecessary, making you angry. Sound familiar? Well, you are not alone. Countless students struggle with putting things off until the last minute. But the good news is, procrastination is a habit you can help break!
Let’s dive deeper to find out why exactly your child procrastinates and how you can fix this.
Why Do Kids Procrastinate?
Understanding the why is the first step to solving any problem in the world. So, let’s look at some possible scenarios that are causing your kid to procrastinate.
1. Your Kid Is Afraid That They Won’t Complete The Work.
Fear of failure can make starting something seem challenging. If your kid is anxious that they won’t complete the task as required, it is natural for their brain to trick them into thinking that it’s safer to delay it.
2. Your Kid Is Overthinking To Make The Work Perfect
If your child is a perfectionist, they might be holding on to starting the task because they feel they could do it better some other time.
3. Your Kid Is Not Excited About Doing The Task
The task itself might seem boring to your child if the subject doesn’t appeal to them. This encourages them to choose something more interesting to do for the time being.
4. Your Kid Is Overwhelmed Because The Task Is Too Big
If it’s a huge project on the table, your child may feel overwhelmed by it and think that doing it later would be easier. But you and I know that’s not the case.
5. Your Kid Is Inclined Towards Instant Gratification
Distractions like devices or TV that provide more happiness can convince your little one to push the task to some other time and choose instant gratification instead.
How To Help Your Child Beat Procrastination?
Now that you know why your child procrastinates, here are some practical tips to help them overcome it.
1. Convince Them To Just Do It For 5 Minutes
The first step to stop procrastinating is to take the first step towards the task! Instead of committing to complete it altogether, just convince your child to sit and do it for 5 minutes. More than often, once they begin, they’ll get the grip and the motivation to keep going.
2. Help Them Break It Down And Prioritize
Your brain loves it when you get something right or you accomplish something. So one tactic to stop procrastinating that task is by breaking it down into smaller parts, prioritizing important ones, and finishing them one by one. Before you know it, the whole task is done!
3. Guide Them To Finish The Hardest Part First
If they are overwhelmed by how difficult the task is, pick the hardest bit after breaking it down and do it first! Once that’s done, the load feels so much lighter that the rest gets done in a jiffy.
4. Help Them To Consider The Consequences Of Procrastination
Imagine you put a task off for later. What happens? When the deadline approaches, you are under too much pressure because the task is still big and time, too short. Just visualizing this future scenario can act as a great motivator to start now.
5. Announce A Reward When They Complete It!
Finally, because they love appreciation once they achieve something, promise your child something they love once they get it done on time. Small, harmless rewards can help transform boring tasks into interesting activities.
Conclusion
Procrastination is a common problem that students face. Understanding the mechanism behind it and using these strategies can help your child tackle it. The idea is simple- start small and be consistent. So, why not guide your child through these actionable tips and see them soar high in academics in no time? Good luck!
