Cash Rewards for Good School Report?

[Gymbob]

Okay, so it might be a tetchy subject, but do any of you give cash rewards for a good school report? I know other incentives are available and am pondering all the options, but if you do give cash rewards how much do you give?

Cheers

My DS1's report was broken down into 12 sections, so he got £12 as he has tried really well this year and really overcome some struggles he had.

dd (7) always has the 'minibond can walk on water when she's not solving the middle east crisis' type of reports, whereas ds2 has always had a big 'hmm' hanging over his reports - he has dyspraxia and mild asperger's and finds school a really difficult place to be

I wouldn't want to add to his stress by making him feel worse about himself - and dd's self-esteem really doesn't need any more boosting

so lots of praise here, and definitely no cash

I gave a cash reward for my DS2 with his Common Entrance. He is a bright boy but not very diligent.

Other than that, we have gone out for a meal as a family to celebrate their successes.

I intend to reward for effort not achievement, I can ask no more than they try their best. DD1 has SEN and has absolutely knocked us out with the effort she has put in this year - mostly A's. Last year her effort was quite poor.

It seems most of you don't do cash rewards, and one of mine only talks money. I'm now considering asking them what they would like and buying them it within reason.

Deaddei - it is refreshing to see you are giving £50 each. DD2 says one parent at school is giving £100 for A's and £50 for A's. I give her an A for effort on that one

I won't be giving ds cash when his GCSE results come out, I'm quite curmudgeonly like that. We had a meal out to celebrate the end of exams & I'll try & make the results day special somehow whether or not he makes his targets (which were stupidly demanding so he quite likely won't). He did do well in his grade 8 piano recently & I have ordered him some new music to celebrate that - it's also the sort of music that should give him pleasure for life (if he continues playing which I've a hunch he will) so it seemed appropriate and I think he'll be very pleased. Of course he needed some new music anyway, so I'd have bought him some whatever the result.

Mine are too young. I never got anything and always did well. (I got a first and was presented with a toy car!).

My friend got her ds1 treats and he is in nursery FFS! They have not tried at all, they play all day and dress up as Batman! I do reward my ds1 though if he is particularly helpful at home or something where he has really tried and it's stood out as 'special'.

I think it depends if it actually means something ie.if you don't do it EVERY year and it's just expected as 'the norm' then it's not really a reward is it? More like an end of school celebration (which is ok too, but not a reward).

When they were younger we usually bought them a new book at school reports time.

Now they're older (11 and 13) we tend to go out for a family meal to celebrate. They did both get superb reports this time, so I got them a chocolate plaque from Thorntons decorated with a key phrase from their reports.

We 'reward/praise' effort rather than achievements in this house.

I suppose a concession could be made for exceptional effort in an area where the child is weak and a small gift like a book is OK for younger children. However, IMO this notion that every time something is done well it has to be rewarded, is pernicious.

The majority of people spend their lives working and doing things to the best of their ability. The only "reward" most get is their pay cheque!

No, but they got such amazing reports last year we bought them a present each - can't remember what but something like an HM Armed Forces toy, so fairly big - but their reports were just so lovely...

We get this year's reports on Thursday - ds1 is v. excited as he's pretty sure this year's is going to be just as good, so we've probably shot ourselves in the foot for the next 10 years or so...

We never gave cash or presents for School Reports or exam success. We did, however, give a Revision Present each year if we felt enough revision had been done in preparation for the exams. This doesn't add additional pressure - and increases the chances of a good result!

I'm liking that idea flaming toaster - must add it to my book of tips for Secondary School

No. I've never given rewards just lots of praise. I do know other parents who have given cash for results but I think good grades are a reward in themselves.

Roisin - my dds would so love the chocolate plaque thing...I amy have to steal it from you!

It is me btw (the one who sent you some literacy stuff) so I'm not just a random person jumping on your idea!

may - not amy

Don't ever trust literacy stuff from a ghoul who can't spell!

My DD is 8y and I would never give cash a areward for a good report. I would never merely congratulate academic achievement particularly anyway - I would however massively praise good effort. I always look at DD's effort grades on her report first.

but even then - no to cash rewards here. Lots of praise verbally yes, but not to gifts, etc.

If DD1(14) gets a good report before summer then I make sure she has a little extra cash to go out with friends.
For completing her dance exams and music grades then I treat her to something like a new book, clothes or an extra horseriding lesson.
God I sound so posh and middle class, I swear I'm not.

I too like to praise effort which I can see more easily with the dance and music exams. Academically she is pretty smart so a lot comes easy to her.

DS(11) is autistic and at a special school. he has just had a certificate for behaving appropriately with strange children at a playcentre. As opposed to the usual violent outbursts. He got a copy of his favourite magazine and will be going swimming with dad during the holidays.
He functions at a 3-4 year old level at best so probably doesn't get rewards but he does appreciate the extra 'good boys' we give him.

BelligerentGhoul - feel free to steal away!
What's with the name change btw? Is it permanent?

Fancied a change; was jealous of Vicar In A Tutu and A Jumped Up Pantry Boy; have moaned a lot about work lately and was getting paranoid that Big Brother might be watching!

It's funny how paranoia seems to be linked to the Academy world. We have that too!

When my two were younger, it was more of a lot of fuss and probably a Happy Meal.

They both had different obstacles to over-come when it came to exams, and different expectations. DD1 missed a lot of schooling and struggled with exam conditions, however we still expected her to gain the 5 A-C's required for her to study for her A-Levels. She amazed us all and her teachers by passing all her exams with her lowest grade being B's. So we did reward that with money.
Her A2s was a similar story and she was rewarded with money again. However it went into an account that she couldn't touch until she was 21.

My DD2 (ASD) we just needed her to get through her mandatory schooling. She got one C at GCSE. And has been doing a life-skills course at college. Whilst we never gave her money, (She has no concept of it) we did buy her something towards her current obsession (101 Dalmations)

I think it's just personal preference. My two had difficult academic careers, did not get any gifts nor do they have any relatives that dote on them, or even send them a christmas card. So I see no problem with rewarding hard work and determination.

Noooooooooooo

Haven't read anything except OP, but having had 3 kids go through the whole thing & 1 coming up to the end, I have always felt that good results were a reward in themselves & have never handed out anything material!!!

Pompous? Moi?