Comments on: Using money as a reward for good behavior http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/ Personal finance, commentary, and spending less the easy way Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:08:04 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: BCmom http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-138503 BCmom Wed, 14 May 2008 04:59:38 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/#comment-138503 My 4 year old is really a pretty good kid, but he likes to argue and whine... We started the "Movie points" program... 50 movie points = 1 new Bob the Builder/Thomas and friends (or whatever) DVD We used 50 pennies, as a visual aid and he loved the idea of moving the pennies from the baggie to the jar. he gets 1 point for putting his dish in the sink WITHOUT being asked, 1 point for putting the toilet seat back down, 2 points for EXEMPLARY behavior on public outings, and w whopping 5 points for going to bed without a fuss (one of the biggest battles in our house). It works out that he can easily earn a new dvd once a week, and some of our (used to be) daily battles have all but disappeared! It's positive reinforcement mixed in with a little good old fashioned bribery, but it REALLY works for us.. :) My 4 year old is really a pretty good kid, but he likes to argue and whine…
We started the “Movie points” program…
50 movie points = 1 new Bob the Builder/Thomas and friends (or whatever) DVD
We used 50 pennies, as a visual aid and he loved the idea of moving the pennies from the baggie to the jar.
he gets 1 point for putting his dish in the sink WITHOUT being asked, 1 point for putting the toilet seat back down, 2 points for EXEMPLARY behavior on public outings, and w whopping 5 points for going to bed without a fuss (one of the biggest battles in our house). It works out that he can easily earn a new dvd once a week, and some of our (used to be) daily battles have all but disappeared! It’s positive reinforcement mixed in with a little good old fashioned bribery, but it REALLY works for us.. :)

]]> By: mbhunter http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-138293 mbhunter Sun, 11 May 2008 01:59:46 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/#comment-138293 I think that I'm tending to agree that we shouldn't make a regular habit of using money as a reward. That can be a slippery slope. I think that I’m tending to agree that we shouldn’t make a regular habit of using money as a reward. That can be a slippery slope.

]]> By: Van girl http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-138241 Van girl Sat, 10 May 2008 07:28:11 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/#comment-138241 We have a 3 year old daughter who is generally good most of the time, but like all 3 year olds occasionally likes to see how far she can push things. Although good behaviour is something we expect from our daughter the reality is she is only 3, so that’s not going to happen all the time. We use both positive and negative reinforcement when needed as I don’t find the same form of reinforcement works for every situation. If both forms worked equally I would rather my daughter behave to get a reward rather than behave so that she doesn’t get punished (naughty chair). We have a 3 year old daughter who is generally good most of the time, but like all 3 year olds occasionally likes to see how far she can push things. Although good behaviour is something we expect from our daughter the reality is she is only 3, so that’s not going to happen all the time. We use both positive and negative reinforcement when needed as I don’t find the same form of reinforcement works for every situation. If both forms worked equally I would rather my daughter behave to get a reward rather than behave so that she doesn’t get punished (naughty chair).

]]> By: Money Blue Book http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-138165 Money Blue Book Fri, 09 May 2008 03:01:30 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/#comment-138165 I don't think there is anything wrong with using reward as a powerful motivator for children and even adults. Both positive and negative reinforcement work well...that's sort of how life is. My parents used to use computer and video games as a motivator for me to study when I was a child. It worked brilliantly! I don’t think there is anything wrong with using reward as a powerful motivator for children and even adults. Both positive and negative reinforcement work well…that’s sort of how life is.

My parents used to use computer and video games as a motivator for me to study when I was a child. It worked brilliantly!

]]> By: Christine http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-138153 Christine Thu, 08 May 2008 23:21:03 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/#comment-138153 I agree with some of what the comment above said...I've always raised my son that good behavior, manners, etc were an expectation..not something extra to be rewarded with something material. He is given a lot of positive reinforcement through compliments and hugs and knowing I am proud of him. I think rewards erally should only be given for the above and beyond stuff, not for something that is a normal expectation. :) I agree with some of what the comment above said…I’ve always raised my son that good behavior, manners, etc were an expectation..not something extra to be rewarded with something material. He is given a lot of positive reinforcement through compliments and hugs and knowing I am proud of him. I think rewards erally should only be given for the above and beyond stuff, not for something that is a normal expectation. :)

]]> By: Will http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-138110 Will Thu, 08 May 2008 09:47:00 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/#comment-138110 Well I don't think I agree with you on this one. You do make valid points, like you earn things (good credit, a college degree, or a paycheck). At the same time, keep in mind that some things are handed to you too initially, and it's up to you to mess them up (or not). For example, when you have no credit, you receive credit card offers. As soon as you open up a credit file, you're already way better off than the person who has bad credit. It's up to you to keep that good record. Let's go a but further: you start your life with a clean criminal record. Whether you fill that record or not is entirely up to you. That's why I don't see a problem in giving her the money and taking it back if she misbehaves. In my opinion, there's little difference between giving the money and taking it back, and rewarding afterwards. In both cases, you're bribing :) The real question might very well be: should you be rewarding her at all? If you want to make things look like-like, make her understand that good behavior is EXPECTED, but can possibly be rewarded. Just like at your job, where good performance is expected, with the possibility (not the entitlement) of being rewarded for it. Any thoughts? Well I don’t think I agree with you on this one. You do make valid points, like you earn things (good credit, a college degree, or a paycheck). At the same time, keep in mind that some things are handed to you too initially, and it’s up to you to mess them up (or not).

For example, when you have no credit, you receive credit card offers. As soon as you open up a credit file, you’re already way better off than the person who has bad credit. It’s up to you to keep that good record.

Let’s go a but further: you start your life with a clean criminal record. Whether you fill that record or not is entirely up to you.

That’s why I don’t see a problem in giving her the money and taking it back if she misbehaves. In my opinion, there’s little difference between giving the money and taking it back, and rewarding afterwards. In both cases, you’re bribing :)

The real question might very well be: should you be rewarding her at all? If you want to make things look like-like, make her understand that good behavior is EXPECTED, but can possibly be rewarded. Just like at your job, where good performance is expected, with the possibility (not the entitlement) of being rewarded for it.

Any thoughts?

]]> By: Big Poppa http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-138109 Big Poppa Thu, 08 May 2008 09:30:42 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/05/08/using-money-as-a-reward-for-good-behavior/#comment-138109 We use a "naughty chair" right out in the center of what is going on in the household. Our five-year-old sounds much the same as your 3 yr. old, and this is extremely effective. We ignore her when she is in that chair. She gets one minute for each year - i.e. - 5 minutes for 5 years, and the clock doesn't start until she is completely quiet. We generally only have to use it once a day. We use a “naughty chair” right out in the center of what is going on in the household. Our five-year-old sounds much the same as your 3 yr. old, and this is extremely effective. We ignore her when she is in that chair. She gets one minute for each year – i.e. – 5 minutes for 5 years, and the clock doesn’t start until she is completely quiet. We generally only have to use it once a day.

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