Motivate your little one and encourage her productivity. Take these steps to bolster your child's work ethic and encourage productivity.

• Whether it's cats or fire trucks, try to share your child's passions. Ask lots of questions, and encourage her to think through her responses and to speak carefully and in full sentences.
• Express interest in what your child learns in school.
• Establish times for reading and writing. Even a preschooler can be encouraged to practice writing the ABCs.
• Create a quiet, comfortable site for your child to do his homework. Help him get started on it, and be available to answer questions, but don't hover -- and always resist the temptation to do it for him.
• Be sure to limit your child's after-school activities to no more than three days a week, and provide plenty of opportunities for imaginary play.
• If your child has trouble writing or avoids homework, ask him and his teacher lots of questions. And whether it's occupational therapy, speech therapy, or more time for tests, make sure he gets the extra help he needs.
• Reward your child for her productivity in school, not her grades. After all, she has control over her output, but she can't control whether she gets an A.