Does your Johnny or Jane eagerly anticipate new experiences, rise to meet challenges and enthusiastically work through assignments? Or is your home strewn with half completed art and science projects, unused gymnastic uniforms and assorted unwanted paraphernalia? Some children lack initiative. Others begin but become genuinely discouraged with difficult activities and, without our continuous support, give up.

Motivating a child to try is one of the most challenging problems a parent can face. Getting a child to go through the motions of an activity and actually helping him to do his best are two different things.

Motivation can come only from within - not from reasoning, cajoling, threats or punishment.With effort, persistence and patience, parents can help their children realize that goals can be reached, success is possible and effort pays off. We can help our children gain the confidence necessary to persevere through the most difficult assignments. Here are some suggestions.

Support their efforts

Listen to what your children are saying. Help them break down jobs into attainable steps. Even a big problem becomes less formidable when divided into a series of small tasks. You can also help by finding and organizing the tools needed.

Encourage follow through

Praise youngsters for efforts and for accomplishments. Offer consistent encouragement to ease them through the task even as their initial excitement wanes. Share your own experiences - your triumphs - your feelings of satisfaction at a job well done.

Offering rewards

Give your child incentives for efforts, not just for accomplishments. You might start a star chart or offer a token or small money reward. Mare sure, however, that the primary reward is the satisfaction gained from a completed assignment. For more resistant children, try smaller steps per star or sticker.

Recognize when to help

When children are frustrated in school or at home, help them go back to a level where they feel comfortable, where they have previously found success. This will improve their attitude and encourage them to try again.

Make this a team effort

Encourage those who work with your child to become part of your team. Explain the problem and your solution. Make sure they understand that , for your youngster, sticking to the task is all important. Your child needs to feel like a winner. He can be successful even if he's not always on top.

Everyone his ups and downs

Your child needs to know that his feelings are similar to others. Everyone works hard at things. Everyone needs encouragement sometimes. And everyone can be successful if they face challenges head on.

Praise the effort

Praise, generously given, goes a long way. When a child tries to control a particularly problematic behavior or enters a new and difficult situation, he is likely to be reluctant and afraid. With your encouragement and support, however, he can succeed