Are you struggling to get your child to participate in activities he/she once enjoyed? Is your child capable of getting all A’s in school, but is a consistent C student? Do you constantly hear how bored or unchallenged your child is at school? Is the amount of whining in your home driving you crazy? Do you feel as though you have tried everything to motivate them, but nothing has worked?
Have comfort in the fact that you are not alone. Lack of motivation and underachieving are a growing trend among today’s children and teens. This issue is especially prevalent in those students struggling with a developmental/learning disability, such as Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This problem with motivation has become so challenging to tackle that many parents are turning to prescription medication as a solution. However, other effective treatment options such as behavior therapy have proven themselves effective as treatment for motivation issues.
Where to begin? The first step towards taking action is gaining an understanding of the many variables that factor into your child’s lack of academic motivation. Trying to tackle the behavior without a thorough understanding of it is like trying to aim for a moving target in the dark. It can actually do more harm than good. At Butterfly Effects, we always recommend that a thorough behavior analysis be conducted before any intervention plan is put into place.
Labeling a child as “unmotivated” makes what could be a small stumbling block, seem like a colossal roadblock. It is no wonder that parents and educators both feel incredibly overwhelmed and helpless when dealing with a child who “lacks motivation,” for their description of the behavior does not offer insight into the real issues at hand. It is important to assess the meaning of “unmotivated” for not only does that definition differ from one person to the next, it does not describe a behavior that can be observed or changed.
The behavior analyst’s first step to assessing a child’s lack of motivation is to accurately define the behaviors that comprise it. For example, “unmotivated” would be defined as "request refusal to get out of bed when asked by mom within 2 minutes of demand being placed in the morning before school." Defining the behavior in terms that are observable and measurable allow the analyst to set attainable short and long term goals. Use the following questions to help you define your child’s “lack of motivation.”
Unlike other treatment options, a behavior analyst can provide you with answers to each one of the following questions:
Wondering how? Behavior analysts use a variety of assessment tools to help them understand why your child behaves as he or she does. Instead of just masking the underlying cause of the problem, analysts will identify which skills your child needs further development as well as those environmental varaibles that influence the behavior. They then develop measurable intervention plans that specifically addresses your child’s needs. The intervention strategies will answer questions, such as:
Through on going data collection the analyst is able to ensure the plan’s success from start to finish. Programs to address motivation problems that involve behavior modification techniques are fail proof if developed by a professional and carried out consistently. The reason for their success is that behavior modification programs make those directly involved with the child the central change agents. Analysts realize that if change is to be lasting, then those that care for the child on a daily basis must be the ones to make the change. To find an analyst in your area, visit our Directory.