Kids and Teens
How to Effectively Use Tangible Rewards to Motivate Children
Before we begin, you need to understand that there are two types
of rewards: tangible and verbal. Tangible rewards are those that
children can hold or feel. They could be anything like stickers,
candies, toys, stationary, awards and certificates or money. Verbal
rewards, on the other hand, are those that are spoken such as praise and
feedback.
This article addresses the use of tangible rewards. You may have wondered why tangible rewards sometimes work while at other times they don't work at all. The answer is that to be able to motivate, tangible rewards must be expected, task-dependent, performance-related and appropriate to the desired behaviour.
1. Children must expect to get the reward
You must tell children that there will be a reward given for a specific task or desired behaviour. This is done before the task or behavior. If it is given after then it has no value. The deed would have already been done and no amount of reward would change that. This point might seem obvious but some parents and teachers often forget this and as an afterthought would tell children, "Oh by the way, you did great on this so you can get that."
2. It is task-dependent
Task dependent rewards depend on children involving themselves on a specific task/behaviour. If you want your children to read then you would give the reward for reading and not for doing homework or tidying up.
3. It is given for performing at a high level
Children must do well or reach a certain level in a set task/behaviour to be able to receive it. It must not be given for just doing or completing the task. You want to cultivate a job well done mentality not one where children would rush through just to get it done.
4. The reward is related to the desired behavior
If you want to encourage a particular behavior then the reward has to be related to that behaviour. For example, if you want your children to read more, you would give a bookmark and not a toy. In the long-term, you want them to be engaged in reading and not to rush through just to get the reward. By giving a bookmark, or something related to it, you encourage children to do more of it.
Before you give children a tangible reward, ask yourself:
1. Have I told the children about the reward?
2. Will they get the reward for the specific task/behaviour I set for them?
3. Have I set the reward for performing the specific task/behaviour at a high level?
4. Is the reward related to the specific task/behaviour?
This article addresses the use of tangible rewards. You may have wondered why tangible rewards sometimes work while at other times they don't work at all. The answer is that to be able to motivate, tangible rewards must be expected, task-dependent, performance-related and appropriate to the desired behaviour.
1. Children must expect to get the reward
You must tell children that there will be a reward given for a specific task or desired behaviour. This is done before the task or behavior. If it is given after then it has no value. The deed would have already been done and no amount of reward would change that. This point might seem obvious but some parents and teachers often forget this and as an afterthought would tell children, "Oh by the way, you did great on this so you can get that."
2. It is task-dependent
Task dependent rewards depend on children involving themselves on a specific task/behaviour. If you want your children to read then you would give the reward for reading and not for doing homework or tidying up.
3. It is given for performing at a high level
Children must do well or reach a certain level in a set task/behaviour to be able to receive it. It must not be given for just doing or completing the task. You want to cultivate a job well done mentality not one where children would rush through just to get it done.
4. The reward is related to the desired behavior
If you want to encourage a particular behavior then the reward has to be related to that behaviour. For example, if you want your children to read more, you would give a bookmark and not a toy. In the long-term, you want them to be engaged in reading and not to rush through just to get the reward. By giving a bookmark, or something related to it, you encourage children to do more of it.
Before you give children a tangible reward, ask yourself:
1. Have I told the children about the reward?
2. Will they get the reward for the specific task/behaviour I set for them?
3. Have I set the reward for performing the specific task/behaviour at a high level?
4. Is the reward related to the specific task/behaviour?
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thank you