Paying kids for good grades?

[line6man]

I don't see how paying kids to earn good grades is any different than adults working hard for a promotion/pay increase at work? The concept is the same, and thus, it should be treated in the same respect. If you want your kids to grow up with a work ethic that is motivated by the concept of increased financial reward, pay them for their grades; if, on the other hand, you want them to develop their work ethic for reasons unrelated to financial success, then don't pay them for their grades, and reward them in whatever manner is appropriate for the reason you think they should develop their work ethic. Very simple.

[MilkyMcMilkMilk]

best motivation you can give.
hardwork equals money.
Don't give money for chores, kids make a mess and can clean like any other member of the household.

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

As has been stated earlier, you get paid to be productive in the "real world," and most children, with the exception of the most conscientious, don't have the foresight to really understand the value of education.

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Is a coal-miner 'bribed' with cash to go down a mine? Is a firefighter 'bribed' with cash to enter a burning building? Am I 'bribed' with cash to spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week in a building with 11-18 year olds? No. It's called working.

I think there is a key difference in that for a job, all you need to do is show up and be average to get your paycheque. Going above and beyond the call to excel in everything you do doesn't give you an instant reward (no payment, generally no bonus, often no recognition), it's something you do because you can, because you take pride in your work, and because you have the hope that some day somebody will notice and it's going to pay off.

If anything, by the job analogy, it makes sense to pay your kids for attendance, so long as they're not failing.

I guess that's essentially how it worked for me. I got free food and board while I was at school and passing, my parents made it obvious to me that the day I drop out is the day I go get a job and start earning a living.

I don't think enough parents show their kids that they DO pay them, every day of the week. They pay them in food, a place to live, clothes, and any extras. My parents made this pretty obvious to me at a young age, and I always felt the need to pull my own weight because of it.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by MilkyMcMilkMilk

Don't give money for chores, kids make a mess and can clean like any other member of the household.

Right. In the real world, no one pays you to do the dishes. You can either do them, or they will simply pile up. Your reward is having a clean kitchen and cups/plates/utensils/etc. for your next meal. Paying your children to vacuum the floor, or scrub the toilet or such is absurd.

[bolophonic]

When I was growing up, only the jerkiest spoiled rich kids were paid for good grades. I would never consider it unless it was a matter of life or death. I would hope that if my son was doing poorly in school, that we would make every attempt to identify the problem and find a different approach.

Then again, he is only 15 months old and I just smeared ketchup all over over his food in order to get him to eat his dinner, so I can't rule anything out at this point.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by Simo98

I think there is a key difference in that for a job, all you need to do is show up and be average to get your paycheque. Going above and beyond the call to excel in everything you do doesn't give you an instant reward (no payment, generally no bonus, often no recognition), it's something you do because you can, because you take pride in your work, and because you have the hope that some day somebody will notice and it's going to pay off.

If anything, by the job analogy, it makes sense to pay your kids for attendance, so long as they're not failing.

I guess that's essentially how it worked for me. I got free food and board while I was at school and passing, my parents made it obvious to me that the day I drop out is the day I go get a job and start earning a living.

I don't think enough parents show their kids that they DO pay them, every day of the week. They pay them in food, a place to live, clothes, and any extras. My parents made this pretty obvious to me at a young age, and I always felt the need to pull my own weight because of it.

Good points well made.

[FunkJunk96]

Worked on me. I understand good things happen when you apply yourself.

[Luke19Boarder]

Originally Posted by MilkyMcMilkMilk

Don't give money for chores, kids make a mess and can clean like any other member of the household.

My parents also gave us a weekly allowance (a small amount, 10$). My sister and I had chores that we had to do as well. My parents made it clear to us that they weren't paying us to do the chores ... but if we didn't do them, they wouldn't give us our allowance.

[electracoyote]

Wouldn't life be grand if everyone always did the right thing purely for the intrinsic value, the warm fuzzy feeling inside?

But it doesn't work like that. The dog has no inclination to do your ridiculous trick unless he's rewarded. And often, young people do not fully understand or appreciate the intrinsic value of their education unless they experience an extrinsic reward.

This is life and human nature.

And it's not only kids. If you didn't get paid, you probably wouldn't work much either. We teach our children that with good choices, even tough good choices that involve sacrifice, there is a reward on this earth. And then we proceed to demonstrate it by rewarding good choices and positive behaviors.

However, we do not give allowances for chores. Chores are re-payment for rent, utilities, food, and laundry services. They are part of the communal effort that makes a household function in a healthy way, and in which everyone participates according to his or her abilities. And my kids have never complained about not getting an allowance. They have money when they need it, they are encouraged to save it for a rainy day. They work part time jobs when possible. We help them with ocassional big expenses like proms and travel opportunities.

[FunkJunk96]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Wouldn't life be grand if everyone always did the right thing purely for the intrinsic value, the warm fuzzy feeling inside?

But it doesn't work like that. The dog has no inclination to do your ridiculous trick unless he's rewarded. And often, young people do not fully understand or appreciate the intrinsic value of their education unless they experience an extrinsic reward.

This is life and human nature.

And it's not only kids. If you didn't get paid, you probably wouldn't work much either. We teach our children that with good choices, even tough good choices that involve sacrifice, there is a reward on this earth. And then we proceed to demonstrate it by rewarding good choices and positive behaviors.

^ I like this guy!

[steamthief]

I don't pay my kids for good grades, it's an expectation. I do revoke privileges if they go south.

[two fingers]

No. To me there is a difference in work, chores and duty. Mowing the lawn is work. Getting good grades is your duty. I will teach mine the difference and pay them accordingly.

1) Duty - Get good grades. Don't backtalk your mother. Be kind to your sister. Be respectful of your elders. Help those in need.

2) Chores - Help wash dishes. Help fold laundry. Clean your room. Clean the pool.

3) Work - Cut the grass. Wash my car. Help paint your room.

The only thing that will pay off in money is work.

[ZeroSymbolic]

My parents did this:

A=$5
B=$2
C=$0
D=$I pay them $5
F=You better not get an F.

Straight A's was my choice of $20 or some kind of big treat.

It wasn't a lot off their wallets and it gave school a meaning for me. I think it works if the prospect of losing money is there, and you start it at a young age and remain consistent.

Also it doesn't work if you have an allowance, because if you have an allowance $5 means nothing. I had to work very hard to make $5.

I could make $5 a day whenever I wanted, but it would be a job like scooping cattle manure and afterbirth from the Birthing Barn (obviously a farm kid), or cleaning out a soggy grain bin after a hard rain.

I grew up an incredibly hard worker, who takes nothing at all for granted. So the method worked for me.

[bigboy_78]

Some kids need a reason to get good grades. Telling a kid that working hard at school will pay off in the future is like a promoter telling you to play a gig for "exposure".

My parents made the offer of paying me for good grades, but I didn't cost them a cent.

[Darren Low]

If the kid understands that money should not be the sole incentive for good grades then it should be fine I think.

[bigboy_78]

Originally Posted by Darren Low

If the kid understands that money should not be the sole incentive for good grades then it should be fine I think.

...but money is the incentive.

Good Grades = Good Job = More Money.

There is no other advantage to getting high marks in school.

[kserg]

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

What are your thoughts on paying kids for good grades? I have heard of this practice a few times, only up through the secondary level (high school). I'm really not sure what I think about this, the pros and cons seem to be even on each side as I think it through.

I missed you MM

[Luke19Boarder]

Originally Posted by bigboy_78

...but money is the incentive.

Good Grades = Good Job = More Money.

There is no other advantage to getting high marks in school.

Unless, you know, you are working toward a job that you enjoy/ would get fulfillment out of. Money isn't the only incentive when choosing a career path.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Luke19Boarder

Unless, you know, you are working toward a job that you enjoy/ would get fulfillment out of. Money isn't the only incentive when choosing a career path.

+1.

[CauliColin]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

A Gibson, for GCSEs?

Bloomin' eck.

It certainly motivated her. Now she is doing pharmacy at uni.