Reward Ideas

[nannyde]

When is the last time you received a reward? That's what I thought. I don't want to teach children that rewards are for things we are expected to do. Pretty soon the expectation of the reward becomes the ONLY reason someone complies and I don't want to even go into that forest.......

Well I want a reward.

Can you reward me Black?

I could use a cooler full of moose. That would be a reward that would modify my behavior and make me compliant.

[spud912]

I am curious ... do any of you reward a child for going potty while potty training? If so, what do you reward with? I'm trying to figure out the best way to motivate my dd to use the potty.....

[Meeko]

I am curious ... do any of you reward a child for going potty while potty training? If so, what do you reward with? I'm trying to figure out the best way to motivate my dd to use the potty.....

We stop just short of throwing a party........:: actually just OODLES of praise and smiles and encouragement. Then when Mom comes, we get all excited again and tell mom what a BIG boy/girl they have been. I encourage the other, potty-trained kids to give lots of praise too. I don't give physical rewards as they can backfire and the child gets upset when they have to end. I just act completely thrilled when they use the potty. To an adult I must look barmy (my son will attest to this) but kids LOVE to think they are making you super happy.

[Blackcat31]

Well I want a reward.

Can you reward me Black?

I could use a cooler full of moose. That would be a reward that would modify my behavior and make me compliant.

:::: I'm working on that..... But rest assured it is NOT a reward, it is a token of appreciation!!

[Pammie]

I am curious ... do any of you reward a child for going potty while potty training? If so, what do you reward with? I'm trying to figure out the best way to motivate my dd to use the potty.....

My potty training kids get lots of High-5s, hugs and praise from me and all of the other kids (potty users and non) when they use the potty! The pride on their faces when receiving such wonderful, positive acknowledgment of their accomplishment is priceless.
No sticker or goodie treat ever gives a child that same feeling of reward as being the recipient of praise by everyone in the house simultaneously

[WImom]

I have a reward chart for quiet naptime. I've been using it for the past two months since I was having issues with a few kids. Now that the problem seems to be fixed and everyone has earned one prize now I'm switching it to a chart for going above and beyond or catching good behavior that a child was having problems with in the past. I may not give a sticker away everyday.

[Abigail]

I love the Bow-WOW card! Then you don't have to write on it or anything. Do you have any ideas for a cat/kitten themed card instead of dog? I have three cats and would love to incorporate a cat/kitten theme into the daycare.

All I could think of was a Me-OW card for boo boo's. LOL

[erinalexmom]

We have a "good citizen award" everyday I choose who behaved the best ALL DAY and they get the good citizen award (which is just a sticker that looks like a "ribbon" that I bought 16 for $1) I just remind them a few times throughout the day "remember whoever does the best today gets the good citizen award" My poor son who is 3 has never won it (i've only done it for a week) and he is very rowdy! (I would term him if he wasnt mine LOL) but the other day he cried "Im never going to be the good citizen!" tears streaming down his face. I felt sorry for him but I thought well maybe it'll have an impact. I CANNOT wait till that little dude wins it because it will be such a huge thing for him! Now I could feel sorry for him and GIVE it to him but it'll mean so much more when he EARNS it.
I forgot to add :that only ONE child gets it everyday so they dont all get rewarded everyday. So its more of a intermittent reward which I was always taught in nursing school that was most effective.

[countrymom]

I tried the reward thing once, well after a while the kids just expected it, it lost its effect. I now have a 6 yr old that when he goes home gets a freezie everyday if he's good, he will even ask it here, so wrong in my opinion. As for the cleaning up, I do have a bag of candy (I buy from the dollar store) that if they help clean up you will get a candy, but I give it out once a week, kind of like a reminder, that its something i expect because they do forget what cleaning up is, also my kids eat the candy so thats why I don't always have it. But the 6 yr old won't clean up unless he gets a candy and I have to explain to him all the time that I don't have any, its just crazy.

[Mom_of_two]

I agree with not rewarding for expected behavior. I do on occasion remove treats for inappropriate bahavior. I rarely give treats but on birthdays I do, and this DCK, 3, was jumping up and down and yelling at nap 2 days in a row, so she did not get a cookie (explained to her prior to nap, and she understood and made the choice. This happened yesterday.)

I do reward during potty training. My daughter got an m&m or a sticker. Then just for poo. Then nothing. She asked a couple times but it was quickly and easily phased out. Same wiht DCK's (sticker not m&m) for everything, then poo (seems harder) then nothing. Never had a problem with ending the potty training rewards within a couple weeks. Just became expected.