Helping Children Build Motivation: Small Steps Toward Success
By Hannah Boutkan, MSW, LSW – August 13, 2026 –
Children are born with an innate desire to learn, grow, and explore the world around them. As they get older, however, environmental, social, mental, and emotional factors can affect that motivation, especially when it comes to school and everyday responsibilities. While adults cannot force a child to be motivated, they can create environments that encourage curiosity, confidence, and a willingness to keep trying.
The Harvard Center on the Developing Child offers several strategies to help build motivation, beginning in infancy.
One of the simplest ways to build connection and encourage curiosity is to follow a child’s lead. Take an interest in what captures their attention and encourage them to explore. When children feel supported in their play and discoveries, they learn that their interests and ideas matter. This early curiosity can become the foundation for a lifelong desire to learn.
Another valuable strategy is to encourage unstructured play. When children have opportunities to play without every activity being directed by an adult, they can develop imagination, creativity, problem-solving, and social skills. These skills become important later when children encounter challenging or less-interesting tasks. The ability to think creatively, solve problems, and interact with others can help them remain engaged when things become difficult.
It is also important to make sure expectations are age-appropriate. Think of the Goldilocks principle: a task should not be too hard or too easy — it should be just right. If a child believes a task is impossible, they may quickly become frustrated and give up. On the other hand, a task that is too easy may not provide enough challenge to hold their attention. The right level of challenge allows children to see a task as achievable while still giving them a reason to stay engaged.
Goal setting can also strengthen motivation. Goals give children a sense of purpose and help them understand why their daily responsibilities matter. One approach commonly used in social work is SMART goals: goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Most importantly, goals should be meaningful to the child. When children have a voice in what they want to accomplish, they are more likely to see the goal as worthwhile and stay motivated to reach it.
Finally, adults should praise the process, not just the outcome. Recognize the small steps a child takes toward success: starting a difficult task, asking for help, practicing a new skill, or trying again after making a mistake. Focusing on effort and progress helps children understand that setbacks do not mean failure. Instead, mistakes become opportunities to learn and try again.
Motivation does not develop overnight. It grows through positive relationships, meaningful challenges, opportunities to explore, and encouragement along the way. By following children’s interests, encouraging play, setting appropriate goals, and celebrating progress, parents and teachers can create supportive environments that help children develop the confidence and motivation they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Hannah Boutkan, MSW, LSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at Holy Rosary Catholic School in Vanderburgh County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 138 schools across 15 Indiana counties. Over 56,000 youth and families each year are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.
