Motivation Strategies Used by Parents for Their Children in Different Levels of Education

The purpose of this study is to determine the motivation strategies used by parents to increase their

children’s academic success in different levels of education and the effect of these strategies on their

children. In this qualitative study, 51 pre-service teachers shared their experiences related to motivation

strategies used by their own parents to increase their success in primary, secondary and high schools. A

semi-structured interview was used to collect data and findings showed that strategies used by parents

to motivate their children and the effects of these strategies were similar in the different levels of

education. For instance, setting goals, giving gifts, presenting examples, making children feel positive,

and supporting them by a concern with their school life were mentioned as motivating strategies at all

levels. Making the children feel negative, comparing them with others, focusing on the only academic

success of the students, being unable to set healthy communications, setting goals for them, and making

them live financial impossibilities were, however, demotivating strategies in primary, secondary and

high schools.