will she always lack motivation?

[3duracellbunnies]

Dd1 is a lovely girl, everyone says so, she is kind, s mothers little ones, gets so excited when someone else achieves something. She gets on well with people and is doing well at school (2a/2 s at end of yr 2). But she is lazy lacking in motivation. If she can write one word for homework she will. If she can just do two sums she will rather than any extra, if she can read a baby book she will rather than a more challenging book. If she can put away one book she will rather than tidying 3. Getting her to do anything other than the bare minimum(except on daddy's smart phone) is tough. Will she always be like this?

I realise that I may sound pushy, I know she is doing well at school, and until now I have felt that she is still little, in many countries she wouldn't have even started school, etc, but now she is getting to the point where serious work has to begin. I see some of her classmates really fighting to learn even when they find it tough and she is happy to just cruise along, looking for the easy way. It is not helped by being in a grammar school area. I think that if she put in a little effort she could do well - she is articulate, philosophical, questioning etc, but there is no point in pushing her that way if she gets to grammar school and hates it.

I would love to know the answer to this one, as I find myself wondering the same thing about my DS (end Yr 1)!

You're right, she is still young, so lots of time for self-motivation to develop. If she's achieving level 2a s at the end of Yr 2, she must be doing more than writing one word in writing, or one sum, or reading easy books! It sounds like she's actually applying herself quite well in the classroom, do you think she behaves differently when doing things with you? I know my DS does this, he works reasonably conscientiously in class but needs loads of encouragement to do so at home.

That she's articulate, philosophical, questioning, are wonderful qualities and she may be a child who enjoys pondering and reflecting on things. My DS would discuss forever the thoughts he has about a sentence when I'm inwardly muttering through gritted teeth "Aagh, just finish the sentence!!". She sounds like she is emotionally mature and intelligent (being mindful of others' feelings, achievements, etc.) for a 7 year old.

I'm a teacher so feel I should know more about this really but I do see children developing so differently, but reaching the same or similar goals in the end, that I'm trying hard to lighten up with my own son! Just keep encouraging her and modelling the behaviour you want her to adopt. Perhaps let her see you finish something you've worked hard on, comment on how you had to really think about what you were doing and how good it makes you feel that you did it, etc.

FWIW, that's what I'm doing! Your DD sounds like a lovely child.

Thank you, yes maybe I should lighten up a bit! She has done really well, especially as she has struggled with letter formation (now 2b in writing); she refused to learn to read until part way through yr1, proposing instead to open a school for children who didn't want to learn to read and is now 2a, likewise she struggled with maths until the begining of the year and is now 2a in that too. I imagine her progress looks quite good on paper, and you're right maybe she gets more enthusiatic in class. It still feels like such a hardship to even do the minimum work. When really pushed she can do it and does well at home, I just don't want to turn homework into a battle field. She will also do things like journals, cake baking etc at home, so maybe I'll try to concentrate on the fun things more than homework.

She takes this approach in most areas of life and has done since she was tiny. I imagine it isn't helped by dd2 just two years below being the personification of diligence and even ds trying hard to learn as much as he can. Will try to get her teacher's perspective at parent's evening, see if they notice more effort in their classroom than in the homework. Hope your son too finds the key to enthusiatic learning.