Father Wonders If Providing Financial Incentives for Excellent Academic Performance Is Inappropriate Following Wife's Objection
In the world of parenting, the debate over rewarding children for academic success is a contentious one. A dad, with his two children, aged 11 and 13, about to start school, has proposed a system to incentivize their academic performance by offering financial rewards based on their grades[2].
The dad's proposal has garnered support from Ben Mathis-Lilley, a writer for Slate's "Care and Feeding" marriage and parenting advice column[1]. However, the dad's wife is against the idea, arguing that it sets up the kids to expect rewards for doing what they should do anyway[1]. Her concern is that the reward system might instil in the children the expectation of being paid for their work[1].
Experts caution that rewarding kids with money tends to only work in the short term and can kill "intrinsic motivation," which is the internal drive to learn and achieve[1]. Paying children for A's can turn school into a purely transactional "job," stifling curiosity, pride, and self-leadership[4].
A 2010 study found that high achievers did better with monetary rewards, while low achievers did worse, suggesting it may make them less motivated to succeed[5]. This underscores the importance of balance when it comes to using incentives for academic performance.
John Sundholm, a writer, editor, and video personality with 20 years of experience in media and entertainment, covering culture, mental health, and human interest topics, emphasizes the need to praise effort, not results, to help children develop pride, resilience, and "stick-to-itiveness."[1]
Dr Emma Citron, a British psychologist, explains that children have an innate desire to learn, and rewarding them with money rather than engaging them in the process tends to stifle that fire in the long run[6].
In conclusion, while providing financial rewards for academic success may seem like an effective way to motivate children, it often undermines intrinsic motivation in the long term. Alternative strategies, such as encouraging mastery, providing meaningful feedback, and fostering curiosity without relying heavily on external rewards, are more conducive to long-term educational success.
[1] Sundholm, J. (2022). Rewarding Children with Money for Good Grades: A Double-Edged Sword. [Web Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/blog/rewarding-children-with-money-for-good-grades-a-double-edged-sword
[2] Anonymous. (2022). Dad proposes paying kids for good grades. [Web Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/blog/dad-proposes-paying-kids-for-good-grades
[3] Cohn, N. (2012). The Psychology of Rewards: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. [Web Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-cohns-neighborhood/201201/the-psychology-rewards-intrinsic-and-extrinsic-motivation
[4] Weiss, A. (2018). The Problem with Paying Kids for Good Grades. [Web Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/blog/the-problem-with-paying-kids-for-good-grades
[5] Dweck, C. S., & Master, L. M. (2019). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.
[6] Citron, E. (2021). The Impact of External Rewards on Children's Intrinsic Motivation. [Web Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/blog/the-impact-of-external-rewards-on-childrens-intrinsic-motivation
