Paying kids to do homework

[CrystalMaize]

Just googled this and found

gideonlearning.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/should-we-pay-kids-to-do-their-homework/

Have been giving great thought to DS (13) and complete lack of motivation to do homework. He seems highly motivated by money though.

Has anyone tried it? Would it work? The theory on the above link seems interesting...should I consider it?

Grimma, the "principle" is that schoolwork should be done at school, not at home. Work should be done at work, you should not bring work home.

Where did he get that idea from? If that's his principle he's going to limit his career choices! Schooldays are short; teachers (those I know) do marking and preparation at home. Kids have a short schoolday and the luxury of deciding when to do their independent work.

If his principle is that he should do his schoolwork at school, then he needs to be made to do it in lunchtime or maybe he can stay in the library after school (DDs school allows this, its useful for kids without home internet or a good place to work quietly at home).

And I'm only asking because my own DS can occupy himself with anything, so if I remove computer and tv and going outside, he'll happily read a book iyswim and not care about his punishment.

The clue is in the word homework

Quick - I kind of got that

Winny, just before the end of term, I removed TV, PS3, lap top, phone and CD player. He doesn't read. I got screamed at a lot but didn't give in. Finally, he did the homework at school during detention. I did not consider that a victory.

To get back to the point though, I'd rather use carrot than stick. Money could be the carrot.

I wouldn't pay him. TBH, if he is unable to delay gratification at 13, I'd be more concerned about that than whether he is doing his homework. Isn't that supposed to be one of the biggest predictors of future success?

I wouldn't pay a kid money to do homework.

Not sure how old he is, but sounds as though he's old enough to understand a reasoned argument. I'd say that homework is not just about the task at hand. It's about learning to manage your own time and responsibilities, without a teacher or a parent telling you when and how to do stuff. By doing his homework on time and independantly, he's showing you that he's more mature. And if he's more mature, then you'll let him do more stuff he may wish to do (could be staying up later, hanging out with his friends longer or whatever). I suppose it is a form of bribery, but it does actually teach them a lesson about growing up. With rights come responsibilities and all that jazz!

Crystal I know you have.

Sorry, it was directed to your DS and his principles

Just realised he's 13, well that's plenty old enough to understand my logic.

It's what my mother did with my brothers and I. I always did my homework on time and got good grades, and she pretty much let me roam free by the age of 14. My elder brother had the same homework attitude as your son, and he was made to be in by 5pm every day and treated like a child. My mother's view was if you're not mature enough to schedule in your homework, I'll have to schedule it in for you, and you won't like that. And he didn't!

But if you've stuck with it, he might have come to the conclusion that every day without laptop, phone etc plus angry mum plus detention is not worth it. But you gave up right away, yes?

And if you'll offer him money now, it'll be clear that you are desperate. I don't think it's a good position to be in and also doesn't really bode well for other problems that may arise in the future.

And the idea of paying your child to do homework...come on, every kid is supposed to do it. That's the way it is. And when he'll start a job he won't be able to dictate the conditions to his boss.Don't make him feel so special I get (just) the idea of perhaps rewarding excellent grades at A levels or similar. But homework?

Not for homework, but I do pay them for light housework. I feel that homework is something they just need to learn to do for their own benefit.

If your DS is only motivated by money you could try talking about all the expensive life style choices you can make if you get a really good job with a good salary, as opposed to what the average salary can buy.

Does you son currently get given pocket money? Rather than directly paying him for doing homework (which does sound like the thin end of the wedge), how about a set number of tasks such as tidying his room, completing homework etc that need to be done before he gets his allowance? In school holidays you could increase the number of chores to take up the time the homework would have done....

Point taken Winny

It's not bribery, it's positive reinforcement. Which always works better than negative. DH pays DD(17) to improve her posture and not to say "like" all the time. Maybe it works, but at least it means she has to put up with being nagged.

Grimma, the "principle" is that schoolwork should be done at school, not at home. Work should be done at work, you should not bring work home.

Don't let him leave school until 5.30pm then, schools usually have homework clubs or a library that is open until later.

Don't argue - he has to do it, no argument.

And how many people do bring work home? All teachers do, many others do, and they work at weekends.

This isn't the first thread about the problems of getting teens to do 'homework'. Maybe schools would do us all a favour if they stopped using this term and called it 'independent work' or 'non-classroom work'. Its non-optional work which is done whereever and whenever suits the pupil. Either on the school premises, in a public library, at home.