How to reward your child for their academic achievements

In theory, the satisfaction gained from reaching an academic goal should compensate for the effort that went into it and serve as a reward in itself. But for kids, it’s not always enough. When you’re hoping for a particular outcome, it can be tempting to give your child a bit of extra motivation by promising them a reward. That said, for this technique to be effective, it’s best to do the following:

• Recognize the effort, not the score
• Set realistic goals
• Make your expectations clear
• Require your child to meet all of their goals before giving them the reward
• Keep your promises
• Be patient
• Etc.

A reward can make your child feel excited about reaching goals and reinforce the sense that they are making progress, which can be very encouraging and motivating. A reward doesn’t need to be expensive or particularly original to be effective—just try to think of something fun that your child will like. Here are some examples of rewards kids love:

• Reading two bedtime stories
• Eating breakfast for dinner
• Cooking as a family
• Letting them choose a movie to watch
• Having a pajama day
• Going on a special outing
• Playing a board game
• Building a fort under the kitchen table
• Etc.
   

A motivational chart will help your child visualize their goals and progress. Here are some of the reasons why you might want to use a motivational chart:

• To recognize positive behaviour
• To motivate your child
• To make homework and studying less of a struggle
• To encourage your child to be autonomous
• Etc.

For the chart to be beneficial, it must meet the following criteria:

• It suits your child’s taste (for example, you might decorate it with bunnies, rainbows, characters, etc.)
• It clearly states your child’s goals using keywords or pictograms
• It displays your child’s progress (for each day, for each test, etc.)
• It shows the reward
• Etc.