Why do some children struggle to follow through on goals they genuinely want to achieve? In this episode of the Beyond Words podcast, host Garrett Oyama, MS, CCC-SLP, is joined by Kentaro Fujita, PhD, social psychologist and expert in self-control and motivation, to examine the science of goal pursuit and what it means for speech-language pathologists working with children.
The discussion examines why self-control is about more than willpower, highlighting how the way children think about a goal can influence their ability to stay motivated. Dr. Fujita explains construal level theory, psychological distancing, strategies for managing temptation, and practical ways to help children stay focused on meaningful long-term goals. He also discusses why shifting attention from the "how" to the "why" of a task can sometimes strengthen motivation when engagement begins to fade.
The conversation then turns to child development and speech-language therapy, exploring how self-control develops over time and how clinicians and caregivers can support children who are still learning to regulate their behavior. Through research-backed examples and practical insights, Garrett and Dr. Fujita discuss how perspective-taking, environmental supports, and goal-oriented strategies can help children build persistence while working toward challenging communication and learning goals.
Rather than viewing children as simply "unmotivated" or lacking self-control, this episode encourages clinicians to consider how goals, perspectives, environments, and intentional strategies shape behavior. Listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of motivation and practical ideas for supporting children as they develop the skills needed to persist, communicate, and succeed.
The discussion examines why self-control is about more than willpower, highlighting how the way children think about a goal can influence their ability to stay motivated. Dr. Fujita explains construal level theory, psychological distancing, strategies for managing temptation, and practical ways to help children stay focused on meaningful long-term goals. He also discusses why shifting attention from the "how" to the "why" of a task can sometimes strengthen motivation when engagement begins to fade.
The conversation then turns to child development and speech-language therapy, exploring how self-control develops over time and how clinicians and caregivers can support children who are still learning to regulate their behavior. Through research-backed examples and practical insights, Garrett and Dr. Fujita discuss how perspective-taking, environmental supports, and goal-oriented strategies can help children build persistence while working toward challenging communication and learning goals.
Rather than viewing children as simply "unmotivated" or lacking self-control, this episode encourages clinicians to consider how goals, perspectives, environments, and intentional strategies shape behavior. Listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of motivation and practical ideas for supporting children as they develop the skills needed to persist, communicate, and succeed.
