How to motivate smart but lazy child?

My 12 yo six grader is happy with his unearned B's. By that I mean, he doesn't try and gets B's. He is so resistant and I am so frustrated. I tell him that if he got a B after trying, I wouldn't have a problem with it; but when he's letting himself perform below his level, it's unacceptable. I want it to be unacceptable to him too. he says, ''a B is better than average-it's still good.''

He is picked on at school because he's more of a ''book'' kid than an atheletic. I keep trying to make him understand that his brain is what will triumph over these punks. And that by not trying and getting B's when he's capable of all A's, he letting people like that win. Also, I worry that when the material is more challenging to him as he gets older, because he has not honed his study skills, he will crumble. Okay, enough venting. I'd appreciate any input. Thanks

How to motivate smart but lazy child?ducati

Does your school have a special program for gifted students? Is there a school for the gifted in your community? Would it be possible to promote him one grade? The best answer would be for him to get into a group of students that are like him and to make friends with them, so they could provide a positive influence and also relate to his situation. It's going to be very difficult to motivate him otherwise because he's young and he simply won't be able to see how his lackadaisical attitude could affect his future. If all else fails, you may have to take a hard-nosed attitude with him and tell him that he will have privileges taken away if he doesn't perform to his full potential. I really hope it doesn't come to that though. Maybe you could try selling it to him by discussing it with him on a more adult level and explaining to him that there are certain things in life you HAVE to do in order to get the opportunity to do what you WANT to do. If he had a better understanding of what it's like to be an adult and have to work to make money to pay bills and how much harder it is when you don't earn a good living, maybe he'll see that he needs to do his best so he doesn't end up flipping burgers at McDonald's or something like that.