Rewarding your child can help motivate them and encourage good behavior, and there are many different ways you can do it.Not all of them involve giving your child material things.Below you will find a list of different ways you can show your child you appreciate their good behavior, as well as some tips on how to make your rewards more effective.
Step 1: Reward your child with affection.
A way to let your child know you approve of their behavior is by using affection as a reward.You could give your child a high five, a pat on the back, or a big smile.You can also show your affection with hugs or kisses.You can use affection as a reward as soon as your child does something good, because it is free and immediate.Showing affection to your child can help them get used to showing their affection in public.
Step 2: Quality time with your child.
Extra time with your child can reward good behavior.An additional five to ten minutes of reading time before bed or extra time with your child after school is possible.Quality time can be used as a form of reward to create stronger bonds with your child.Your child may want to spend time with you in the kitchen.You can reward their good behavior by allowing them to help you make a cake or cookies.You will be able to spend quality time together and create something you both enjoy.
Step 3: Reward your child with an outing.
Maybe your child can't get enough of the play zone at the mall or maybe they enjoy going to a park near your home.If your child is on good behavior, you can give them an outing to their favorite place or an opportunity to do a favorite activity.Maybe your child likes going to the movies.You can reward good behavior by taking them to the latest movie for kids, a movie date for just the two of you.
Step 4: Allow your child to spend time with their friends.
As a reward, your child may respond well to getting free time, where they can hang out with their friends.This will allow your child to connect socially with others, as it is a good reward.If you set a time limit for this reward, you can allow your child to sleep over at a friend's house or give them an extra hour of play time.You still have control of the reward, but your child is able to benefit from it.
Step 5: Allow your child to pick a meal.
You can give your child a reward like food.You can give your child the chance to choose a special meal that you can enjoy together, rather than just giving them their favorite food.This could be a favorite meal of someone.The feeling of responsibility that comes with choosing a special meal is something your child will enjoy.There is debate about using food as a form of praise.A child specialist says that using food to praise your child can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food in the future.Allowing your child to have a special meal can lead to confusion.Positive self-esteem and good behavior can be associated with bad food.You can use food as a form of reward, but be careful with it.Social rewards and verbal praise can be more effective than food for your child.
Step 6: Reward your child with useful items.
You should be careful not to give your child toys while using material items as rewards.Practical items like school supplies can be used for your child's room.This way, your child can still get use out of the material reward.If you give your child pencils, pens, and notepads, they can use them in school.You can give your child stickers to decorate their lunch box.If your child has specific school supplies in mind, you can buy them as a reward for good behavior.
Step 7: Reward your child with items related to their hobby or activity.
Material items that are specific to your child's interests are what you should try to find.Material items can complement your child's favorite activity.It is important for your child to get use out of the material item and not see it as just a toy.Your child might be into a video game.You can give your child a video game made by the same company or designer, or a doll version of their favorite game hero.You can give your child a set of paint brushes or a new canvas if they are into painting.
Step 8: Give your child an allowance for good behavior
At four or five years old, an allowance is a good option as children are more aware of their needs.Giving your child an allowance is a great way to teach them how to manage their money.To start the allowance, you can give your child a small amount of money based on how old they are.A seven year old would get $7 in allowance.The idea is to give your child enough money to get one or two things, but not too much, as you want them to spend their money wisely.Give your child real cash so they can hold it and learn how to count it.As they get older and hit adolescence, you can give them virtual money, which they can manage through an allowance app on their phone or computer.Your child may be able to get their allowance through a bank account once they are a teenager.
Step 9: Encourage your child to evaluate themselves.
You should try to get your child to evaluate themselves and their skills when you praise them, rather than using standard words like "Good boy/good girl!" or "That's right!".You can say things like, "You look like you enjoyed that!", or "Did it feel good to do that?", which will encourage your child to think about their own actions and decisions.Good behavior is a positive way to act and this will allow your child to feel confident.You can praise your child by asking them questions.You can ask your child questions like, "How do you like your painting?" or "Are you happy with how that piece fits into the game?"This will help build your child's self-esteem and strengthen your relationship with them, if you ask, "How do you feel about the picture you drew?" or "Did you enjoy telling that story in class?"
Step 10: When you praise your child use "I" statements.
You should always use "I" statements when you praise your child, as this will show you appreciate their actions.It will make your praise unique to your child.Your child can learn how to use "I" statements for themselves and model their behavior on you.You can complement your child's behavior by saying, "I really enjoyed how you performed that dance!"Instead of saying "what a good dancer you are!" or "gosh, you're a great dancer!", do this.You can show your child how you express your feelings and thoughts with "I" statements.You should avoid saying things like, "Good girl for sharing her pencils!" or "You are a good boy for staying quiet in class today."
Step 11: The child should not be praised for the behavior.
Don't say your child is good or bad, only that their behavior is bad.This will make sure your child doesn't associate your praise with their behavior.Tell your child why her behavior was good.Your child may have made you a card.You should tell your child what elements you liked in the card and not say, "What a great card you have made me!"You can complement their choice of color, their penmanship, or their sweet message inside the card.
Step 12: A rewards chart can be used.
Parents use a rewards chart to show their child how well they are doing.Good behavior can be checked with signs and faces.You can use gold stars to measure your child's behavior.You could allow your child to make their own chart and post it on the wall or refrigerator.Your child will be able to judge their behavior on a daily basis.Some people don't like the use of a rewards chart to track a child's behavior.Giving your child tangible rewards for good behavior can make them see it as transactional.Your child might only be motivated to do well for a reward if they don't get rewarded often.
Step 13: Different forms of praise can be used.
Kids get bored easily if you don't give them a variety of rewards.The reward may lose its power over time if you use it the same amount of times.You can give your child verbal praise for small acts of good behavior and then reward them for larger acts.Different rewards should be used for each child in your household.Each child may respond differently to different rewards.The reward should fit the child's personality.
Step 14: Younger children should get more immediate rewards.
Younger children respond well to smaller, more immediate rewards, such as verbal praise or a small material item.By the age of three, many children can understand the power of rewards.As your child gets older, shift your approach to smaller, immediate rewards.Older children may respond better to more accumulative rewards, such as an allowance or extra time doing something they enjoy.Quality time with friends is one of the social rewards that adolescents and teenagers start to see.
Step 15: Specific behavioral goals can be set for your child.
Establish realistic and specific behavioral goals for your child so you can encourage them to display good behavior.This will teach your child the value of good behavior and make them feel as though they can meet your expectations.You might expect your child to help set the table for dinner every night.You can model this behavior by helping them set the table first and then giving them the responsibility to do it on their own.Your child should be praised when they set the table without you asking.This will allow you to praise your child when they fulfill your expectations.