Getting good grades is an expectation to be met, not a job to be paid for.

This weekly reward thing doesn't resonate for me. For us, what he got was peace and tranquility since when he did his work, we didn't have to call him on it and make life miserable for us all.

I can't believe small tokens do anything for a fifth grader (a pack of gum?) if I did that my son would tell me he felt like the dog.

Does he chew gum? It is a little different than candy.

Anonymous wrote:I've asked him for ideas, but his first one was Jolly Ranchers He's kind of on the cusp of big kid rewards and little kid rewards. He's not into Pokemon or Legos that much anymore so inexpensive toys aren't that easy to identify. I'll keep picking his brain.

I have the bike riding kid. He's almost 9 so he's not much younger. He also does well with checklists and likes to cross items off one at a time. Short and simple to help him remember what he needs to do. For the morning for example - Wash and refill water bottle, pack homework, pack snacks etc.. Maybe you could try something like that and incorporate homework. It's not a reward system but more of an organization system on what needs to get done. You could always add something fun at the end or an occasional Jolly Rancher as the last step.

I understand PPs about working up to something big but for my son it was always too long and not as meaningful for day to day. Personally I'm not into rewards but do whatever works for your child. I would have bribed DC2 with anything during the potty training years if it sped it up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For my kids doing well in school was its own reward.

That worked for one of mine, but not the other two. 13 years of pointless grind, only to earn the right to do four more of the same simply did not appeal. I've often heard that school is a kid's job. In line with that philosophy, we paid for good grades on a biweekly basis from fourth grade on.

Before that, we had a points system for daily behavior and the results of all graded assignments throughout a week. Points could be redeemed for rewards. Reward options were small, inexpensive or free things that the kids wanted. We also included options for certain amounts of money towards bigger toys they wanted that we had told them to put on the Christmas/birthday list, and "get out of one disliked chore free" cards. Would Pokemon cards, hotwheels cars, or similar little trinkets work as incentives for your kid, OP?

Oh, never mind, I missed an earlier update from OP -- sorry about that. Maybe something sports related, or earning his way to tickets to an expensive event, amusement park, something like that?

Anonymous wrote:For my kids doing well in school was its own reward.

That worked for one of mine, but not the other two. 13 years of pointless grind, only to earn the right to do four more of the same simply did not appeal. I've often heard that school is a kid's job. In line with that philosophy, we paid for good grades on a biweekly basis from fourth grade on.

Before that, we had a points system for daily behavior and the results of all graded assignments throughout a week. Points could be redeemed for rewards. Reward options were small, inexpensive or free things that the kids wanted. We also included options for certain amounts of money towards bigger toys they wanted that we had told them to put on the Christmas/birthday list, and "get out of one disliked chore free" cards. Would Pokemon cards, hotwheels cars, or similar little trinkets work as incentives for your kid, OP?

Anonymous wrote:For my kids doing well in school was its own reward.

For my kids doing well in school was its own reward.

I've asked him for ideas, but his first one was Jolly Ranchers He's kind of on the cusp of big kid rewards and little kid rewards. He's not into Pokemon or Legos that much anymore so inexpensive toys aren't that easy to identify. I'll keep picking his brain.

My son is younger but daily homework was a struggle. He loves riding his bike up and down our block because he says it calms him. Sometimes he just goes for 10 minutes a day but he loves it. When the homework is done he can go. Have you asked your son for ideas?

I have a star reward chart. Kids get stars for various tasks including studying. Each star = $1. Some friends dangle an actual toy and child can earn toy when x stars are earned.

You should know what your child likes. My boys like pokemon cards, legos and misc toys and games.

Anonymous wrote:or little points or stars there will translate to a trip or an adventure somewhere. And the trip I would choose is something that he will have a say to plan out, an adventure that he can do with you.

I personally don't like to give more screen time as a benefit as for ADD kids, its counteracting focus and concentration in the real world. (screens makes things all go so fast that everything else becomes slow in real life)

Thanks, this is helpful. I'll talk to him about what kind of adventures he might like. I hadn't really thought about the issue with screen time. We'll look into that.

Have him clean the toilet and sweep the floors if he doesn't do his homework. He'll become a janitor if he doesn't apply himself.

or little points or stars there will translate to a trip or an adventure somewhere. And the trip I would choose is something that he will have a say to plan out, an adventure that he can do with you.

I personally don't like to give more screen time as a benefit as for ADD kids, its counteracting focus and concentration in the real world. (screens makes things all go so fast that everything else becomes slow in real life)

Help me think of a small weekly incentive for my 5th grader for keeping up his weekly grades. DS has mild ADD and needs to learn how to stay focused during classwork assignments. The expectations are higher and the teachers are less hands-on this year and he's got to learn how to do it for himself. He can stay focused if he tries and we are working on various strategies to help him with executive functions, but he needs a carrot that can help motivate him day to day. We pay him $10 for As and $5 for Bs for his 9-week report card, so money doesn't seem like a good weekly incentive (I don't care if you don't agree with paying kids for grades, so no need to comment). I don't want to offer candy or other food rewards and he gets enough screen time on the weekends that more isn't an incentive for him. Any ideas on what might motivate a 10 y/o boy?