rewards for school performance?

[posadas]

When I was a child, my parents gave my siblings and me small rewards for good school grades. I lived in the US and I think they gave us $1 for each A grade. I can't remember whether or not this incentive motivated me or not... but am now wondering whether we should do something similar for my son. I'd be more inclined to reward "effort" than "results" (his school gives marks for both). My husband was not keen on the idea when I mentioned it to him but is willing to go along if I want to do it.

I'm interested to know what others do? Do you offer any sort of rewards for good school work?

My parents gave us a money reward for GCSE/A-levels.
I can honestly say it didn't influence my effort/achievements at all, it was just nice to have afterwards.

At infant level they used to buy us a small book with an inscription for a good report. Again, it didn't influence us at all to work.

I don't offer any incentive to my dc for school work generally.
Dd1 likes to work because she likes to acheive to the best of her ability anyway. I don't think the other two would be influenced for more than a short time anyway.

The only thing I do is if they have homework that needs to be done, I might say "when you've finished that we can do/you can have xxx." But I don't think that's what you mean.

I do. It works for DS not for DD. He has to work hard to get good grades, she wings it.

Think it depends on the child.

Thanks for your comments. Up til now, we've been very relaxed about school and haven't emphasised "performance" at all (though I do tell him we expect him to behave well.) He's reasonably self-motivated so perhaps I'll just carry on as we've been doing and see whether he continues to develop his own sense of "wanting to do the best he can" without any parental incentives (other than, as DeWe says, things like "when you finish xxx, we can do yyy" to spur him on when needed).

DD's school issues house points for both effort and achievement. These build up to getting certificates 50 bronze, 75 silver you get the pattern. I reward these certificates as they reflect both effort and achievement.

I don't give rewards for good marks/grades/results.

I do sometimes reward good effort - but only for out of school stuff, in the dds' case, because they get rewarded for effort and achievement in school.

eg of effort rewards: dd1 has trouble sticking through the 'can't do it' phase of learning out of school - so for piano, which she has done for one term, I have promised a specific Lego Friends gift (her choice) in return for regular practice with no complaining or whining about doing it, until half-term. From experience, I know this is likely to bring its own reward (enjoying piano, and improving sufficiently to regain confidence) and it makes life a lot easier for me, and our relationship much easier.

More bribery than reward, I suppose, but it actually works well for dd1. dd2 finds achieving is its own reward, but dd1 gives up before she can get there sometimes. I suspect in a year or two (she's 9) she will have learned how to get through those patches herself, with support. Bit like using chocolate buttons to potty train I suppose - helps the beginning process, then soon they're doing it automatically because its easier/nicer/ok

We do random rewards for trying hard, eg going out for a pizza after a good report or mastering something. They aren't usually fixed or negotiated in advance. DD2 got a new lunchbox for doing spellings with me over the holidays (she would have got it anyway, but she doesn't know that).

Agree with rewarding effort not actual attainment though. DD1 is at secondary and we may decide to do an upfront thing for GCSEs, something like maybe £10 for every pass, additional £10 if met target grade, additional £10 if beat target grade.

DS is very bright but Very inclined not to make his best effort. He would do well no matter what effort he put in but I dislike the idea of him learning to put in minimal effort. Therefore I reward him for trying his best at school. The school give out a system of awards that apparently reflect effort, therefore whenever he achieves one of these he is allowed to choose a small prize. I introduced this at Easter last year when it was apparent he was really giving the minimum and had a fantastic effect on his performance in the summer term.

Depends on the child.

If DD takes after her father in being money motivated then I will definitely pay/bribe for good results.

If she takes after me then there's no point as it won't have any effect.

Thanks for your interesting comments!
I think I won't set out a set of rewards in advance but give some on an ad hoc basis if it seems appropriate.
Elibean -- I like your idea of setting a target for music practice. That's a bit of a challenge for us, too. I agree with you that incentives to practice could lead to a child developing a love (or at least interest) for/in music which could then sustain continued practice without parental rewards.