Bribing Kids With Food for Good Behavior

Obesity

• Bribing children with food teaches children to eat when they are not even hungry which can lead to overindulging. Excessive eating can contribute to both childhood and future adult obesity. Most foods that are used as bribes are usually candy or bakery items that are loaded with empty calories and can wreak havoc on young teeth.

Reinforce Bad Behavior

• Once children learn that they will get a treat if they cease behaving badly, they may begin to use this same behavior to get even more tantalizing foods. Instead of stopping one temper tantrum, bribing your child with foods may actually begin a cycle of undesirable actions. For example, if your toddler launches into an explosive temper tantrum at the supermarket, you may, out of desperation, buy him a small snack or candy to calm him and keep the noise from annoying fellow shoppers. This will teach him that the next time he wants something at the store, all he needs to do is throw another angry fit as he knows you will give him what he wants. In her book, "Kid Cooperation: How to Stop Yelling, Nagging and Pleading and Get Kids to Cooperate," Elizabeth Pantley agrees that bribery can and usually will begin an endless cycle of expectations of some type of material gain.

Lack of Responsibility

• Bribery will also fail to teach children responsibility. Accomplishing a task or behaving appropriately should be done without expecting anything in return. According to Jim Fay, co-founder of the Love and Logic website that assists parents and educators with discipline issues, some children will begin to feel that they are entitled to some type of treat every time they act right or finish an assigned task. Parents will often give in because it is easier or they may feel guilty if they have not spent any time with their children.

Alternatives

• If you are going to reward your children for good behavior, choose healthier and more constructive options. Spending quality time with your children by reading special stories, going to a park or playground or playing a quick game of cards or checkers will be remembered much more by them than any candy or cake. You can also stockpile small, inexpensive prizes to have on hand for special rewards. Allowing your child more privileges such as staying up later, watching a favorite television show or skipping a particular chore will also reinforce good behavior.