What Kinds of Rewards Can You Give a Child?

Implementing a rewards system for your child is a useful way to eliminate unwanted behaviors and target desired behaviors, says Dr. Alice Heisler with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Maryland chapter. Rewards teach children to perceive a behavior as something of value, says John Shindler, professor at California State University, Los Angeles, which increases the likelihood that they will repeat the desired behavior. Parents, teachers and others working closely with children can use reward systems as an effective behavior modification strategy.

  1. Stickers

    • Younger children love to receive stickers as a reward for good behavior or an incentive to demonstrate desirable behavior. Shindler says that offering a child an incentive, such as a sticker, to display good behavior has strengths and weaknesses. A strength is that incentives and reward systems encourage children to engage in desired behaviors -- such as making their bed each day -- and if the child then adapts the new behavior and carries it through to adulthood, then this incentive had a positive impact on behavior change. In the event that children become manipulative for rewards, Shindler says, and refuse to engage in a desired behavior without receiving a sticker, then the reward system needs to be modified.

    Invite Friends Over

    • When your child demonstrates good behavior, reward him with a chance to invite his friends over to hang out and play games, or to enjoy a sleepover. Inviting friends over is a safe and healthy alternative to a food-based reward, which parents often give their children for good behavior. Food-related rewards, according to researchers for the Clemson University Cooperative Extension, a continuing education initiative, are ineffective because they teach children to eat when they're not hungry, and encourage unhealthy eating habits. Instead, social rewards can give your child free reign to choose the activities and menu he'd like to have at his sleepover. This teaches him essential decision-making skills, says professor and consultant Jim Taylor, with Psychology Today, which are necessary life skills.

    "Good Behavior" Coupons

    • The Clemson University Cooperative Extension suggests that parents create a coupon reward system for children to earn movie tickets, gift certificates and opportunities to visit bowling alleys and other entertainment venues. This reward system will give children practical experience with and knowledge of the way in which things are earned in life, such as good grades, an income and items of personal interest. This also teaches children to delay gratification as they wait to redeem their coupons. Learning to delay gratification, general internist and author Dr. Alex Lickerman, with Psychology Today says, is positively associated with better behavioral and academic outcomes.

    Verbal Praise and Acknowledgement

    • While many rewards are often tangible, children are very responsive to the intangible reward of praise and acknowledgement given to them by their family, friends and other important people in their lives. Praise and acknowledgement helps children feel better about themselves, says experts at the Australian parenting site, Raising Children Network, which increases their self-esteem and self-confidence. Raising Children Network experts also note that praise and acknowledgement are useful for children of all ages. You can praise your younger child for putting his own clothes on in the morning -- without incident -- and praise older children for responsible homework management and completing chores.

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