Alternatives to sweets as rewards?

[SawdustInMyHair]

I do not like giving out sweets as rewards/prizes but it seems to be fairly standard as I've even been told to get some to have to give to the kids when term starts 'to get to know them'!

I'm not at all comfortable with this. Food-as-reward isn't a healthy way to think about food or treats, and I have dentists in the family who would be livid if they knew! Makes me wonder if all the parents they get saying "Oh but she never has sweets!" are telling the truth and the kids are getting them at school instead... Also a lot of schools won't let children even bring in sweets in their lunch.

Anyway does anyone have ideas or use alternatives? Obviously small and cheap is an distinct advantage!

[NotMrsTumble]

Check the Christmas bargain threads for ideas? I was astounded when dc were given sweets as rewards in school (dentist in immediate family ) Recently rewards haven't been edible and have been stickers, stationery or a treat for the whole class (film / golden time)

[noiwontstoptalking]

My children's school give out small party bag type rewards. Recent examples that have come home are:

Fancy pencil with rubber
'Popper' style coloured pencil
Novelty erasers
Small note books
Stickers
Mini slinkies
Bouncy balls

Kids are always thrilled. Particularly as they get to choose which they'd like.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Stickers or fun erasers seem to work quite well for DS1's class.

[FeelingSmurfy]

Stickers are still popular with kids, and its something they can show parents etc when they go home

[FeelingSmurfy]

Depends on the age, with older kids I have found allowing them to have radio on in the background if they are working well helps

On eBay you can get stickers made cheaply, so they could have things like "sawdust says I was a big help today...sawdust said I worked quietly...sawdust said I was a good friend" etc

[YouMakeMyDreams]

Thr favourite was the teacher that had a box of the things mentioned above. Pencils, badges, rubbers, stickers, plastic bangles that sort of thing. My two that had this teacher loved getting to gaze into the box of wondrous tat and choose their reward.

[SawdustInMyHair]

thank you! I do have some reward stickers, but they're mainly for work and I love the idea of having ones for more social things (some of the kids need to work on that more than the academics, too!).

I should have thought of rubbers because they're all REALLY into rubbers for some reason (when I was their age it was the balls out of the fountain pen cartridges!) and if someone has a particularly spectacular rubber it's the talk of the class for at least a day

Might hunt around ebay for some stationary bits, thank you! I will try not to bankrupt myself buying loads

[Georgethesecond]

Assuming primary?

I think the box of tat is genius. They all love choosing tat. Cracker toys, McDonald's toys, rubbers, rubber bands, hair bobbles, bookmarks, individual pieces of Lego.....

[Georgethesecond]

Badges, stickers, temporary tattoos, pencils, crayons, plastic insects....

[PurpleAlerts]

Yellow moon are great for cheap tat!

[catfordbetty]

Or you could just lighten up a bit and hand out a few toffees. They'll get their hands on ket whether we like it or not. As for food being a reward, who hasn't bought themselves a bounty after a shit day at school?

[PicInAttic]

Wilko has some great 'teacher tat' at the moment - rubbers, pencil sharpener, crayons, clips, fancy pegs, notebooks etc - with many of them 50p for two or three.
Have restocked my goodie box ready for Monday.

[WildStallions]

Raffle tickets.

Then at the end of term you draw tickets out of a hat and children get to chose a prize from your box of tat.

[HettyD]

Tat is still good for secondary...I give out raffle tickets (especially good for encouraging quiet 'getting on' students) and then 'draw' at the end of the lesson - they get to pick from my 'tin of toptastic prizes'!!! Rubbers, pencils, mini highlighters... Stickers are also great for yr7-13!!!

[noiwontstoptalking]

Angels I second dabbities although I suspect most of MN will have no idea what they are..,

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

You can give class rewards ... marbles in a jar earn a dvd at end of term, working on different targets like not shouting out please/thank you. We had . Daily charts laminated with a counter good work meant they moved up, if they hit 12 they get a sticker and a class marble.

[HonniBee]

I'm also the proud owner of a box of tat! I regularly raid my local pound shops for pens,pencils, rubbers and party favours.
I teach secondary and they are still very keen. I love seeing what they choose.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I should say it was easy to Spot any quiet kids that get over looked and target them in the afternoon. Was clear particularly of other adults rewarding kids in class

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Really dislike the lottery tickets, either they earnt a prize or they didnt. Good job salary isnt based on a lottery ticket.

[BikeRunSki]

Ds's Y1 teacher (a wonderful teacher in many ways) used marbles in a jar. When the jar was full, the whole class was rewarded with 15 mins extra playtime, stickers or stamps, an episode or Numberjacks or Alphablocks, a tiny tat toy or occasionally a sweet or biscuit.

[Rubberduckies]

Dp has a year 4/5 class. He gives the children a marble to collect in a box on each table. At the end of the week the table with the most marbles gets something from the treasure box of tat. I usually buy the tat from the pound shop or the range. Things that do best are 'special' pens and pencils, highlighters, rubbers, little notebooks and hair clips. Last year I think I stocked it up twice and it cost about £30 for the year.

[SofiaAmes]

There is a lot to be said for group rewards. It encourages the kids to help each other. My dd has had a few classes where this took place and it really did work.