Ask to hear, don't ask if they've done it
"Have you practised?" is a checkup. "Can I hear the bit you were working on?" is an audience. The second one gets played, the first one gets negotiated.
Make it frictionless
Guitar on a stand, not in a case. Music on a stand at the right height, not on the floor. Tuner clipped to the headstock. Every barrier you remove is a day of practice you get back.
Praise the process
Praise the effort and the sticking-with-it, not the talent. Children who are praised for being talented avoid hard pieces in case they turn out not to be. Children praised for persistence take them on.
Expect the dip
Almost every young player has a period where enthusiasm dips. It usually passes. Talk to me before making any decision to stop — often a change of repertoire, a new style, or a performance opportunity is all it takes.
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