Hinds Feet on High Places

ANY CLUES AS TO WHAT MOTIVATES BOYS?

Any homeschoolers out there who have the key as to how to motivate a 12 year old boy in his homework? My son can take all day to do his schoolwork and it doesn't really seem to bother him that much. He goes at his own slow pace and gets distracted from his work VERY easily. He's out of his room (right off the dining area where I am working with others most of the morning and first half of the afternoon) and poking around quite often as a regular habit...seeing if he can help the 18 month old, checking on the rambunctious dog, checking the fire (if he remembers, he will do it every hour, otherwise a whole day could go by...) and it is 8:30 p.m. and he will be finishing up the math homework he started at 9:30 in the morning! I do not know how to get him motivated to get done at a decent time so he is free to go out and play or even get his chores done. I suppose it is just a stage, but it worries me that he will end up being lazy and lack ambition. My husband and I are quite ambitious and always " have a lot on our plates," although I do not feel that our lives are stressful, as we are very home based. Nothing really seems to matter to him, and he seems to have no sense of being attentive to his responsibilities and concentrate on his homework.  His older sister ends up volunteering herself to do a lot of strenous jobs that he should be doing if he is ever going to be a strong worker. I realize not all guys are as ambitious as what I see in my husband, but I wonder what we can do to find a way to build some hardworking character into our son. He is not the active sort, or into sports or rough boys' play. He is into drawing, collecting small objects, hunting/guns, military books and equipment, exploring the woods, and enjoys reading, although his time in that is limited since it takes him so long to complete homework and get the chores in. He is more of the quiet type, and small for his age. He tries to be helpful and surprises me sometimes, especially with voluntarily entertaining the younger ones so patiently. He'll make a good daddy someday...as long as he learns to keep his focus! Any and all comments or suggestions would be appreciated. I know of others in the same predicament, and feel that it is pretty common. Perhaps you have already been through this and have some words of advice, or a favorable outcome to report...I would love to hear from you! 

Boys

03:58, 2006-Jan-27 .. Posted by motherearth

I had to laugh, you've described my daughter, as far as lack of motivation, and your son and mine have the same interests!
What programs are you using? I guess all I can think of is using a timer, and letting the consequences of not finishing be strong. (whatever you set the consequences at.)
My other suggestion would be to look at the curriculum your using, does it fit his learning style?
My dh usually can light a little fire for me in this area, and that really helps! My daughter was so unmotivated to want to learn how to read, that it took 2 YEARS. I was ready to pull my hair out!
She has a love for horses and we told her she couldn't take riding lessons until she could read. That was all it took.
Hope this helps a little.

homeschooling boys

09:26, 2006-Jan-31 .. Posted by mccrjill

Hi. You sound like a wonderful family with a wonderful place to live. My son, 15, is unmotivated also with most things except what he's interested in. I don't really know the answer but I used to belong to yahoo group homeschooling boys and I received lots of help there - you would probably get lots of answers if you posted that question there. Sounds like your son is a deep person and artistic and creative. But still, that type needs to take responsibility and do their share of the work too. Jill