Motivate your preteen with enthusiasm

Keep your preteen motivated and you'll keep him on the path to school success! To help motivate him to do well in school and beyond:

Focus on his efforts. Yes, grades matter. But so does hard work. So the next time your preteen studies hard but brings home a less-than-perfect grade, applaud him anyway. Let him know his effort matters as much as the outcome.
Take an interest in what he's learning. Enthusiasm is contagious, so spread some to your preteen. Ask him about what's happening in class and show interest in what you hear. Is he reading about the Civil War? Mention how cool it would be to tour a battlefield. Is he studying French? Go online and search for images of the Eiffel Tower.
Be on his side. Whether it's with a kiss on the cheek or a quick squeeze before he heads out the door, let your preteen know you love him every single day. The more supported and cared about he feels, the more motivated he may be to do well in school.