The article deals with the problems of formation of the motivational and semantic sphere of primary school students. At the same time, the main emphasis is placed on the formation of the motives and meanings of the educational activities of primary school students. There are classifications of these motives: motives related to the content and process of educational activity; motives of self-education, aimed at independent acquisition of knowledge and improving the methods of this process; social motives (broad, positional and social motives); understood and actually acting. The role of the family in the formation of the motives of children's educational activities is considered. The empirical study reveals the relationship between the style of upbringing in the family and the level of motivation of the younger student.