Good Grades that Really Pay Up

There’s no denying that earning good grades is important to succeeding in school. Achieving academic accomplishments lands children on honor and merit rolls and brings the admiration of teachers and parents alike. While having pride in personal accomplishments and the drive to set and attain academic goals are aspirations we all hope to instill in our children, realistically, some require an added boost.

For some children, receiving consistent praise and having schoolwork prominently displayed on the refrigerator provides the needed additional measure of encouragement. For others, it’s the chance to earn privileges or escape the burden of household chores that motivates them to study hard and finish all homework. While few debate whether to acknowledge a child’s academic accomplishments, many parents feel very strongly when weighing in on whether child should be paid to earn their grades.

To pay…

Some parents pay per occurrence for good grades and require payment from their children for bad grades. Others opt for their child earning one larger present such as a new bicycle at the end of the school year.

“I have no problem with paying or rewarding for grades. Since my oldest could care less about her grades, the rewards help to motivate her,” says mother of three Tenna Perry. She is one of countless parents who provide monetary incentives blended with toys and other rewards whose value is based on a grading scale. “They get a surprise valued between $10- $15 for earning a perfect score on a test, and an ‘A’ on a report card nets between $15 and $20,” says Perry.

Noting that her oldest has yet to score a grade of one hundred on a test, despite the financial incentive, Perry points out that her daughter’s report card has drastically improved. “Last year they came close to breaking me, but it was worth it!” she effuses.

As a teacher, principal, school psychologist and founder of 20 private schools and learning centers in the US and Canada, Michael Maloney is the senior author of a remedial reading series that has taught thousands of children to read. “We use rewards as a way to build the student's desire to keep trying, as proof that they are making progress, and as a way to thank them for their hard work,” says Maloney.

Citing that the treats can be monetary but they also may be as simple as certificate of completion, a written compliment about their effort or a small prize from a prize box, Maloney quickly rebuffs the notion that paying for grades equates to bribing children to perform well in school. “Bribery is used to get someone to do something unethical, illegal or immoral. Rewards are earned for responding appropriately,” he notes.

...Or not to pay

“I would not pay my child to get good and will not place that much emphasis on money because it might ensnare them as adults,” says mom of six Brandy Brow. Concerns that children will only exert any academic effort if produces a financial reward, those sharing Brow’s opinion, worry children will not want to achieve any goal unless money is involved.

Yale professor and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Virginia Shiller Ph.D., says “Rewards can play an important role in motivating kids, but the cash-for-grades game isn't the best way to the Ivy League.” Citing there are legitimate concerns about what message paying for grades sends children, Shiller points out, “there are also practical problems with this kind of reward plan.”

Most children receive three or four report cards per school year, making it difficult for them to maintain motivation to earn a promised cash payment that can be months away. “If children fail to earn the cash incentive, they may perceive the whole term as a waste of time, totally discounting any skills they did master,” notes Shiller who is also the author of Rewards for Kids! Ready-to-Use Charts & Activities for Positive Parenting.

Agreeing with Shiller’s sage advice, experts like Maloney agree on “the importance of keeping expectations and rewards reasonable.”

“Evaluate your a weekly homework, quizzes and papers and provide short-term rewards for positive progress, not solely for earning an A+,” says Shiller.

“Remember rewards aren't forever but a child’s achievements are,” stresses Maloney. Whatever method you find to be the most beneficial, aim for your child developing a consistent pattern of better work habits and finding results that result in a variety of personal rewards.

Establishing a reward system based on a child putting forth your expected level of effort, or on the consistent improvement in effort output is one option to help children establish a realistic conception of ‘working’ and taking pride in their accomplishments. “In addition to setting prices and guidelines for payment, families need to establish how the money will be spent,” says award-winning author and nationally acclaimed expert on teaching children how to manage money, Lori Mackey.

“The money my children receive for their grades is set aside in an investing account for their future. At the end of their schooling, they will have one lump sum from their effort in school to invest, buy a car or use for college,” Mackey says illustrating a lesson in fiscal responsibility that carries the message of receiving payment for achieving academic success.

Alternative forms of payment

· Offer a few material reward choices such as baseball cards, fancy hair ribbons or magazines.

· Activities like attending a sporting event or a trip to the museum to see a new IMAX movie adds an element of education and activity to the reward.

· Allow children bringing home a score that reflects effort to choose the dinner menu or an appropriate movie your family can watch together.

· Give positive attention as a reward. Show your interest in school activities and homework.