We all struggle with keeping our kids motivated. Whether it’s trying to get them to finish their chores or get work done, we wrestle with how to get them to actually do what we expect them to do. Do we give them reward for completing things on time? Do we punish them or give them consequences when they don’t do what we want them to do? It causes so much stress and frustration for us as parents.
Today’s guest is going to bless you with some impactful and practical advice on how to best motivate our kids. If you are in the homeschooling world, you know that if you are at a convention where Andrew Pudewa is speaking, his sessions will be packed. Not only is he a language arts expert, he is also an expert in all kinds of things—like motivating your children. His insight and knowledge are going to blow your mind. His tips on parenting and learning are spectacular. You’ll want to make sure you listen to the very end as Andrew shares his “secret sauce” — and trust me — you don’t want to miss it!
On a “Simply” & “Joyful” side note…
Andrew says to make time for your family and what’s important—as well as music, poetry, and literature.
‘Make time for your family and what’s important’. Get more great tips from @AndrewPudewa!
Check out this funny, impromptu interview I did with Andrew on the Teach Them Diligently convention floor!
Highlights from This Show…
- I start the interview out by asking Andrew to tell us a little about himself. He shares that he is a homeschooling dad of seven (yes, seven!) children and nine grandchildren! He shares a little about his family business, Institute for Excellence in Writing, and shares about his world-wide travel.
- Andrew shares the story how he went from being a violinist to being a business owner that’s all about Language arts. He shares a little of the history behind IEW and how it was born.
- “Our success is His success and I try just to not screw things up.” — Andrew Pudewa
- Andrew shares about his time in Japan when he was 22, and his experience learning to play the violin under Suzuki. Much of what he learned about coaching and motivation and human relations he learned during his time with Suzuki that was so much of his vision.
- I share about my favorite session of Andrew’s: Teaching Boys (and other children) Who Would Rather Make Forts All Day I still listen to this session regularly!
- I ask Andrew to share about some techniques he uses for motivation.
- “When you’re trying to teach or learn something, if that thing that you’re trying to teach has significance, it’s easier to learn.” — Andrew Pudewa
- Andrew chats about relevancy and the four forms of this relevancy.
- ‘When you see a child that has a strong desire to learn something, or do something, try to cultivate that.’ — Andrew Pudewa
- “Parents put a lot of stress on themselves to find that sweet spot, to find that thing that their kids are interested in and don’t allow for God to move around that interest.” — Kristi Clover
- “When we see kids that have that passion, they will really study and learn without a whole lot of external prompting.” — Andrew Pudewa
- “Kids will become interested in something they love or respect is interested in.” — Andrew Pudewa
- Andrew chats about what he did when there wasn’t a debate and speech team nearby when his kids were growing up, and why his teen daughter and her friends were auguring about Nato Alliance and alienating Russian and worrying about degrading Russian and American Relations.
- Andrew Pudewa shares about positive peer pressure .
- Andrew and I chat about the difference between teaching with a passion and just not caring.
- “Find people with different passions and different skill sets to teach your children and see where that goes.” — Kristi Clover
- Andrew shares about what you do when you have those subjects that no one is interested in or passionate about, but they have to be learned.
- “It must be possible to win.” — Andrew Pudewa
- Andrew shares how turning hard tasks into a game is fantastic motivation to learn.
- Andrew shares the three laws of motivation.
- “Children like to do what they can do.” — Andrew Pudewa
- Andrew shares the two secret weapons to motivation.
- “Build up the emotion account and live on the interest.” — Andrew Pudewa
- Andrew shares about a life changing event.
Please Note…
- Be sure to grab your FREE copy of my book, Sanity Savers for Moms, by joining our Simply Joyful community. It’s a great way to keep in touch…and get subscriber only freebies like my book. Click HERE to get the book and join!
Connect with Connect with Andrew Pudewa…
Andrew Pudewa is the director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. Traveling and speaking around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills.
Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development from the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him “the funny man with the wonderful words.” He and his wonderful, heroic wife, Robin, have homeschooled their seven children and are now proud grandparents of nine, making their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
You can check out Andrew’s Excellent in Writing books HERE on Amazon! Be sure to visit Andrew’s speaking schedule to see if he will be speaking close to you!
Thank you, Rend Collective for allowing me to use your incredible song “The Joy of the Lord is My Strength”!
(This podcast is by Kristi Clover. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central, and audio is streamed directly from their servers.)