Teaching Skillz - Part 4

        “If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” ~Ignacio Estrada

         Has your child ever struggled with seeing something through? Maybe going to school or an extracurricular activity at times proves to be a challenge. Or even finishing a project in the classroom or at home.

           Whether kiddo or adult, one’s drive to see a task through to the finish line is not always firing on full power. For a variety of reasons, kids and adults alike can experience seasons of less than usual motivation. Case in point: End of school year brain drain!

          Students have been working so hard all year long and now that summer is knocking at the door, it can be hard at times to find their motivation.

Cue our final two Teaching SKILLZ!

Intrinsic Motivation

         There is a lot of confidence and power that comes with allowing children to practice their own autonomy and ability to make independent choices. In moments when lack of motivation is coming through, redirecting by use of intrinsic motivation is a great way of giving kids the opportunity to choose their level of performance in a given task!

Extrinsic Motivation

          Extrinsic Motivation is the eighth and final Teaching SKILLZ! It is a teaching concept opposite to the former, intrinsic motivation. While intrinsic motivation focuses on an internal reward system, extrinsic motivation focuses on an external reward system such as prizes, praise or making others happy for example.

How can these concepts help my child beyond the mats?

           Great question Proud Ninja Parent! Whether your child is enjoying classes on the mats or time with you at home, Teaching SKILLZ is a supportive concept that you can always have at the ready in your back pocket to help your child in a variety of situations.

         Here’s just a few inspirations to get your own creative Teaching SKILLZ ideas flowing:

Finish Strong

         Last week, we introduced the Family Fitness Challenge for Summer; a great way to help the whole family get outside and enjoy physical exercise together with the help of Teaching SKILLZ Up the Rep! and Neurobics.

         As you may already well know, the hardest part of any given workout sometimes is not in starting but in finishing strong. Your muscles are shaky, your body is starting to get tired and your tummy is starting to grumble for post workout fueling. At the moment when we begin to have this feeling of wanting to stop and throw in the towel, cueing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is crucial! Why? Because our bodies in this shaky, end-of-workout stage are actually most primed for greatest muscle growth and strengthening!

         Seeing your final exercise reps through using intrinsic motivation:

• You must do at least 10.
• But if you want to be a Black Belt someday, then go for 15.
• But if you want to make me proud, then go for 20.
• But if you want to make YOURSELF proud and show that you are an awesome person because you want to be the very best version of yourself possible, then go for 30!

         Seeing final exercise reps through using extrinsic motivation:

• Challenge your kiddo to give you 10 more reps.
• If they can do it, then you will do 10 push-ups!

           You will notice your child trying MUCH harder as they will be extrinsically motivated to force you to do push-ups! Why? Because as parents, we are ‘heroes’ in our kids eyes. Therefore they love the concept of being in control of us when they perform at high levels!

           The eight Teaching SKILLZ: Healthy Competition, Choices, Prompting Good Behavior, Trickery, Up the Rep!, Neurobics, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. Each play a critical role in helping to teach children in the way they learn best! For more ideas or inspiration regarding any of the eight Teaching SKILLZ, please don’t hesitate to connect with our team! We are always excited and happy to help brainstorm new, fun

creative ideas with you that further support and nurture the relationship you have with your ninjas on and beyond the mats!

About the Author

Meg Klettke is the proud owner alongside her husband, Alex of Family Strong Sussex, a SKILLZ Lifetime Gold studio in Southeastern Wisconsin. With a background in traditional and alternative therapeutics, Meg is an active advocate for today’s youth. Her passion for supporting and nurturing the whole child resonates through all she does as a Proud Ninja Mom of two boys with special needs, Certified Pediatric Ninja Specialist and Content Creator for SKILLZ Worldwide.

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