| Anyone who has ever taken care of a child knows | | | | You also want to send the message that they can |
| that you can get kids to do virtually anything if there | | | | have anything they want as long as they work for it. |
| is a reward involved, but it is crucial to good | | | | No matter what the reward is, it will seem much |
| parenting to make sure that the reward is | | | | more fulfilling if they know they have earned it. |
| appropriate. | | | | It is unreasonable to offer rewards out of your price |
| While junk food and money can occasionally act as | | | | range or their maturity level, but you don't have to |
| rewards in certain situations, positive feedback is | | | | say "no" all the time. Instead of denying requests, |
| often a more appropriate-and certainly less | | | | allow them with a condition. If a child wants dessert, |
| expensive-reward. Something as simple as a high five | | | | let them have it as long as they have eaten their |
| or positive encouragement when a child does | | | | vegetables. If there is a toy a child has been asking |
| something right can be all the reward they need. | | | | for, get them to put their toys away everyday for a |
| Offering children rewards can be a great way to help | | | | month before buying it for them. Because of the |
| them reach their goals. Create a system to motivate | | | | initial reward, eventually these tasks will turn into |
| your child in an area where they normally fall short. If | | | | habits. |
| they have trouble getting their homework done, for | | | | Age-appropriate rewarding can apply to older children |
| example, offer a special reward for doing all of their | | | | as well. As a child grows, their "toys" get more and |
| homework for two straight weeks without missing | | | | more expensive and sometimes dangerous. It seems |
| an assignment. If they have a messy room, challenge | | | | like the immediate response to the question "Can I |
| them to keep it clean everyday in order to get a | | | | get an ATV?" posed by a 14-year-old would be "no." |
| little extra spending money for the weekend. | | | | However, there are ways to say "no" without |
| Try rewarding positive actions with positive activities. | | | | actually saying it. In the case of the ATV, you can |
| Reward good grades or behavior with a trip to the | | | | compromise by suggesting that your child could get |
| library or park. Not only will this show your children | | | | the ATV when he earns enough money to buy it. |
| that they have done something worth rewarding, but | | | | This eliminates the chance that he will have it before |
| it will also introduce them to other positive | | | | he is legally able to drive it because it will take so |
| influences-like exercise or reading in this | | | | long to raise the money. If the child has to earn the |
| example-without them even realizing it. | | | | money himself, it is more likely that he will reconsider |
| The best reward you can give your children is | | | | buying the ATV because he knows how much he |
| spending time with them. It is important to make | | | | worked to raise the money. Children appreciate |
| time for your children, even in a busy schedule. If | | | | rewards more if they really earn them. |
| you have no free time to spare, still include them in | | | | Though rewards shouldn't be used so often that a |
| your daily life by asking them to help you with | | | | child comes to expect one every time they do |
| something you have to do like cooking dinner, and | | | | something they think is acknowledgeable, they are a |
| make it fun by letting them pick their favorite meal | | | | great way to develop healthy habits for the future, |
| or dessert. These rewards benefit both parent and | | | | like follow-through, goal-setting and hard work. |
| child. | | | | |