Intrinsic Motivation
Dear Subscribers;
If you have limited time to read through the entire blog, here are a few play-based activities focusing on activities to enjoy together as you support your child’s development of intrinsic motivation. Children with intrinsic motivation will engage in activities because they want to, not because adults directed them to do so. Learn more about intrinsic motivation for children and how to raise intrinsically motivated kids. Offering some of the following activities will hopefully not only spark children’s imagination but will motivate them intrinsically as they feel gratitude for what they have or undertake acts of kindness and show empathy towards others.
1. Read and Sing together 📚
Whether at home or at school, choice helps students practice valuable skills for lifelong learning, such as how to make wise choices, how to follow through on those choices, and how to adjust and adapt as needed. When children are intrinsically motivated, they are moved to act for fun, a challenge, or to satisfy their curiosity rather than because of external products, pressures, or rewards. Children typically love to have their parents read them stories, often asking for favorite books to be read and reread. They may even ask for certain pages to be read over and over again or like to start in the middle of the book. Supporting their choices is a small step to support their developing sense of competency, autonomy and connection which leads to a feeling of satisfaction. All of these factors together contribute to the development of intrinsic motivation. Hopefully, the following books will spark children’s curiosity and encourage them to be kind, empathetic and feel gratitude for their uniqueness and differences.
You can locate these books at your school or public library or click on the link below and share the stories
- The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason. (7:54 mins.) Ghosts are supposed to be sheets, light as air and able to whirl and twirl and float and soar. But the little ghost who is a quilt can’t whirl or twirl at all, and when he flies, he gets very hot. He doesn’t know why he’s a quilt. He feels sad and left out when his friends are zooming around and he can’t keep up. One Halloween, everything changes as the little ghost has an experience only he could have because he’s a quilt . . . and he realizes that it’s OK to be different.
- Amik Loves School: A Story of Wisdom by Katherena Vermette. (14:23 mins.) Amik tells Moshoom about his wonderful school. Then his grandfather tells him about the residential school he went to, so different from Amik’s school, but Amik has an idea. This book is one The Seven Teachings Stories series. Here are some activities found on the Ojibwe website for The Seven Teachings on how to use this book in the classroom or at home.
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena. (6:17 mins.)This award-winning classic, celebrating the special bond between a boy and his grandmother, is an ode to kindness, empathy, gratitude, and finding joy in unexpected places.. As they ride the bus one afternoon, the child asks his grandma about luxuries they don’t have while she helps open the boy’s eyes to all of the ways in which they are rich. When their bus ride ends, the reader learns the two are going to volunteer at a soup kitchen. A surprise ending to a marvelous, remarkable book. Winner of the Newbery Medal.
- Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt. This is a touching story about poverty and hunger. When Sofia discovers that Maddi’s fridge is quite empty, she wants to help her friend. She tries in her own way but recognizes that she needs some adult help. Perfect for introducing secrets, and the topic of poverty and hunger.
- The Kindness Book read by Todd Parr (2:33 mins.) uses his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity to explore the value and joy in being kind to others. No matter what other people choose to do, you can always choose to be kind — and what a wonderful thing to be! Today’s parents and teachers are looking for ways to instill empathy and kindness in children at a young age — this book is the perfect introduction to a timely and timeless topic.
- Grateful: A Rap Love Song to the World (4:58 mins.); Gratitude is the Attitude (2:44 mins.); Gratitude Attitude (4:48 mins.)
2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩
- As an act of kindness, encourage your child to cut out a bookmarks or create their own to be left in a returned library book or to give to a family member or close friend.
- Looking for some cutting practice for children? Create a Gratitude Tree or better yet – have children draw a tree and leaves by tracing their hands, cut them out and write a message of gratitude on the hand-leaf. Here is a video showing another quick way to make a gratitude tree.
3. Explore together 🌍
- Organize a family Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
- Take a walk to a nearby park and observe the fall colours and play in the falling leaves.
- Doing small intentional acts of kindness is a great way to teach children about compassion, empathy, gratitude and service. Here are 100 Acts of Kindness children can do.
4. Engage and Interact:
- Share this short video with children and together discuss What is gratitude (2:14 mins.)
- Watch to learn more about how to develop intrinsic motivation in children (3:01 mins.)
- Read the animated version of The Little Hummingbird and enjoy completing the 6 Kind activities found on the heartmindonline.org. website.
5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Outdoor Play and Learning 💭
