Reward Suggestions for Children

Food

Provide a child with a special food treat for good behavior. Save special food, such as cake, cookies or candy, for special situations. If you see a student working independently and quietly at his desk, for example, set a small candy on his desk as a reward. While food can be an excellent motivator for a child, never withhold necessary food if he acts in an inappropriate manner.

Present the child with a small gift or novelty toy for acts of good behavior. Create a behavior chart where the child earns a certain number of stickers or marks for good behavior to achieve the reward or simply present a gift to the child for a day of good behavior. Select a small gift that interests the child such as a decorative pencil, handheld game or other inexpensive gift.

Give your child a special privilege when you see him acting in an appropriate way. For example, if you notice your child talking nicely to a friend or sharing with him, reward the behavior with immediate praise and give him a special privilege. It is important to choose a privilege that the child will particularly enjoy, such as extra recess time if he enjoys being active. If, for example, the child enjoys artwork, allow him extra use of special art materials during the day.

Reward you child's good behavior with a set amount of free time. This allows the child to choose his own reward for the appropriate behavior. Therefore, this encourages him to act appropriately knowing he has flexibility in the reward. Use a timer or stopwatch, and give it to the child, to ensure that he does not exceed the set amount of free time you allot him. If you employ this reward in the school setting, select a time of day for the reward that will not take away from academic material.