Some reasons why $$$$ is a BAD reward for children...?

Question

While in university, I took a semester of child developement(my major was engineering).

The instructor(who did ground breaking research in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies) popped the question:"should you reward your child/teen with $$$ as a reward for doing well?"

About 5 people stated it was a good idea. I was the dissenting voice. I just felt it was wrong .

The instructor stated it was an unwise choice to reward children with $$$ or superfluous items, because you will condition them later in life by a reward system motivated by financial/material possessions. The people in life who find cures for diseases, find new discoveries, invent, write music, artists, write literature, and other great endevors are usually NOT motivated by material possessions or greed.

Want to reward your child? Praise them for their efforts, bring them out for an ice-cream, or take them to a movie, theme-park, etc.

Answer 1

Yes, you and your instructor are right. So why did you pose this question?

Answer 2

I think that it is a great idea to reward children for excelling in school I at one time used to reward my 15yr old for good grades. Now that she is older I don't believe she thinks it matters. Because she became disappointed by her racist teacher. She has never received a grade lower than a B. However I continue to encourage her to do well. Not just for reward but 4 life.

Answer 3

i say ( and its only my opinion) that they should NOT be rewarded at all for doing chores around the house, becuase their reward for doing laundry is clean clothes, their reward for doing dishes is... having food cooked for them in clean pots and pans. the rewards are evident already, does the mother get paid for vacuuming, no, then the other chores have their own rewards as everyone in the house should do work to help out depending on the circumstances( like if one person, say the father maybe, works 12 hours a day, then maybe he could be excluded from a couple chores if the mother stays at home, it all depends on the situation) but anyway, later in life, people should be and are motivated by money for doing actual jobs for other people. Drug companies don't look for a cure because they want to help people (sorry to dissapoint some of you) they are in it for money because they have to make a living like the rest of us. And you say should you reward them for doing "well", doing well in what? household chores, schoolwork, if they do well in schoolwork, then they'll get to college eaiser, their reward will be evident later in life......just one man's opinion.

Answer 4

So what you want is "good for nothing " children ? Sorry, couldn't help myself. Actually I agree with you.regarding behavior, school work etc. but also think there are some circumstances where they should be able to earn $$$ by doing extra things around the house.

Answer 5

he is right. Becuase if you take them out to get rocks, then you no hoo there gettin high with. Thats better than giving them money so they can buy rocks and you have no clue hoo they are with.