The Pros and Cons of Rewarding Children
Do Incentives for Good Behavior Help or Hurt Children?
Aug 10, 2008
There are few parents who have not offered their child a bribe at some time or another; a piece of candy handed to a crying toddler in the check out line in the grocery store or a toy promised to a child having a temper tantrum. Allowances attached to household chores, grades or schoolwork can also be considered a way of bribing or rewarding children for tasks they should routinely complete on their own. But incentives and rewards can be powerful motivators for children.
The Pros of Incentives and Rewards
Incentives can be a great motivator. Adults go to work each day expecting to receive a paycheck in return for their hard work. Accomplishments are often rewarded with raises, bonuses or promotions. Principal Carolyn Hill, a principal at Sheehy Elementary School in Tampa, FL. sees real-life relevance to offering McDonald’s gift certificates to students with perfect attendance. “I feel kids need to know there are rewards for doing what is right. You go to work, you get a paycheck. You have a good driving record, you get a lower insurance rate. I think it’s all in alignment with how the world works,” she stated in an article, “Incentives-or Bribes?” [St. Petersburg Times, March 5, 2006]
In the article “Reward Positive Behavior”, on FamilyEducation.com, author Ericka Lutz points out that a child rewarded learns, “When I do well, I’m appreciated and rewarded.” Offering rewards for achievement and accomplishments or has persevered and found a solution to a problem can make a child feel good, let’s them know their actions were appreciated and can motivate them to continue this type of behavior. [FamilyEducation.com, 1999]
The Cons of Incentives for Children's Good Behavior
Some child development experts also describe rewards and incentives for good behavior as bribes. Dr. Martin E. Ford of Stanford University does not believe parents should offer rewards when a child behaves, “In the short-run, bribes produce a high degree of effort from children, but they can have negative long-term consequences.” ["Parent & Child," Lawrence Kutner, The New York Times, 1991]
Small rewards, such as stickers, can be helpful in teaching young children to complete tasks. These however, can cause dependence on outside motivators rather than learning internal motivation and developing a sense of pride for “a job well done.”
Dr. T. Berry Brazelton believes that rewards narrow goals for children and take away opportunities for children to choose to do something because it is the right thing to do. He believes when rewards are used diminishes children wanting to do good thinks for their own reasons. Although rewards have been compared to adults receiving a paycheck, Dr. Brazelton believes that adults work for more than just a paycheck. Adults feel satisfaction for a job well done; they work for knowledge and for personal growth. When children receive rewards for a job well done, they are taught to work “just for a paycheck.” ["Dr. Brazelton on Rewards as Motivators," Date Unknown, Wondertime, Disneyfamily.com]
Positive Reinforcement
Whether parents choose to offer a reward or an incentive or not, positive reinforcement is a good parenting strategy. Letting your children know you appreciate their hard work or they have done a good job can be as simple as praising them or offering encouragement through words and actions.
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