How to motivate my child to push themselves just a little.

[Tinseltower]

My DD is very very motivated when she wants to learn something. However, when she doesn’t want to, it’s like getting blood out of a stone! She is very used to coasting at school. Homework is done within minutes and she always gets fantastic comments on her homework book! Never revises for her maths or spelling tests, as she knows she will pass them regardless. She’s 9 now and I’d like her to go to the super selective grammar school, as reading up about it, it will suit her much better than our local comprehensive. But, she won’t do any of the preparation for it at all. I’ve bought bond books and again she won’t do them. She’s become quite activated to games like minecraft, roblox and making YouTube videos.

I’ve taken them away this holiday and she’s just moping about, won’t read or do any practice. I can’t afford a tutor but will probably get one next year at some point to help with exam technique. She’d be doing the CEM so not sure really if she even needs tuition.

I’m just wondering if you had any suggestions for me to help her become motivated to do the preparation. I’m only asking her to do 15 minutes 2 or 3 times a week.

You say she is very motivated when she wants to learn something. Maybe this is the key?

You want her to go to this school, does she want to too? Can you talk to her about the school and how it would suit her?

Rather than asking her to do 'practice' or Bond books, could you entice her to want to learn the specific skills that she will need to master? I don't know what the exams entail, but it sounds like your DD would be more easily convinced to 'learn algebra' and 'learn how to write convincing arguments' and 'learn all about (topic x)' than to 'do practice'.