Community› The Bump Message Boards› Stay at Home Moms
Stay at Home Moms
New Discussion

How do you "reward" your LO?

EnglishMajor03EnglishMajor03 member
in Stay at Home Moms

Oftentimes I struggle with rewards for the girls.  The first thought that comes to mind is taking them out for ice cream, but I don't want to start associating junk foods with good behaviors/rewards.  It just seems wrong to do consistently.  

I was thinking TV time but they don't really want to watch TV very often...so, if you want to treat your child, how do you do it? 

image
Report Reply to Post

Re: How do you "reward" your LO?

  • EnglishMajor03EnglishMajor03 member

    imageHav=Fath:
    It's not exactly a reward you could do on a daily/weekly basis but what about a date out with you alone? Even if it is to run errands, they would enjoy some one on one time I bet. Not saying you don't do this already, just remember watching John and Kate plus 8, and they did this and the kids just loved it.

    It's funny, we have been doing this a bit with Parker.  She just started full day kindergarten so she is losing out on a lot of one on one time.  I'd hate to make one on one time a reward, though, you know?  Like- oh you've been so good this week you get to spend time with me. LOL  That would be really crummy parenting. 

    image
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • notkateanymorenotkateanymore member
    What are you rewarding them for?
    Report Reply
  • EnglishMajor03EnglishMajor03 member

    imageKateMW:
    What are you rewarding them for?

    Being adorable.

    Nah.  

     

    H and I do not want to reward good behavior other than to offer positive reinforcement.  But, to celebrate smallish things.  For instance, Last year, a week before Parker's ballet recital she was chosen to do an additional special part because of her "good listening ears" during the class.  I know the additional part was a great reward for her hard work and we did talk about that.  But, part of me thought- oh let's go out and celebrate that with an ice cream...but then, that seemed silly you know?  

    That might be a terrible example.....but...I don't know- sometimes you just want to treat your kids to something and I don't want it to be food focused. 

    image
    Report Reply
  • notkateanymorenotkateanymore member
    We do the yogurt bar up the street to celebrate a good week, great score on a hard test or getting a part in the Nutcracker...not every time, but sometimes she needs a pick me up!
    Report Reply
  • peacelove&mamapeacelove&mama member
    Occasionally we'll do a food related treat, like ice cream or a cookie from Tim Hortons. Most of the time though, it's their choice of activity, or they get to pick a movie to rent for family movie night. Something along those lines.
     

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

    image

     
    Report Reply
  • AndrewsgalAndrewsgal member
    We do occasionally do food rewards. I also am huge on lavish praise. I will also praise her loudly over the phone or in person to my mom or DH. We do special one on one time sometimes. I am big on intermittent spontaneous rewards. Yesterday DD cane home with a note of how good she did at school, we went for ice cream and she got extra book time last night. Next time she comes home with a good note I will probably just give her a jod job.
    Report Reply
  • AgrippaRidesAgainAgrippaRidesAgain member
    DS still has quiet time in the afternoon, so his reward is often "special quiet time" when he gets to watch a movie and eat popcorn instead of hanging out in his room. 
    image
    Report Reply
  • jcsumm0jcsumm0 member

    What about picking out a new book or something from the dollar bin at Target?

    Or a trip to somewhere they like, maybe on a weeknight when you wouldn't normally go to the library or playground or something.

    Report Reply
  • notkateanymorenotkateanymore member
    Other things we do are let her pick a movie Oviedo movie night, let her pick dinner that we cook together, let her read extra minutes at night or take a big long bubble bath. I think anything out of the normal routine is a treat!
    Report Reply
  • etude de la vieetude de la vie member

    I let her pick the activity. Any activity really...

    Some days she will say she wants to go to a farm and feed animals, a kid museum, bounce house/indoor playground, the community pool. 

    DS is too young but I will let him pick and we will alternate.

    I do some sweets as rewards but really we have a special time of day when sweets are allowed so it isn't a "big deal" to get a piece of candy in this house. Since I don't do "dessert" I allow after nap snack to be a junk food time and they get to choose. Yesterday it was fruit snacks and an apple, day before it was chocolate chip cookies and yogurt. It is the only time of day those types of food can come out and it has taught them to not over indulge or be too excited about sweets. It is apart of their everyday routine and they have plenty of time to burn of the energy. 

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • joyfullyfoundjoyfullyfound member

    imagepeacelove&mama:
    Occasionally we'll do a food related treat, like ice cream or a cookie from Tim Hortons. Most of the time though, it's their choice of activity, or they get to pick a movie to rent for family movie night. Something along those lines.

    I like this idea - just that it would be a family thing celebrating their achievements, where it sometimes involves food (like a favorite restaurant or snack) and other times not (like a movie, the zoo, a fun park, etc) in their honour. 


    Lilypie Third Birthday tickersLilypie First Birthday tickers


    Report Reply
  • joyfullyfoundjoyfullyfound member

    Oo! Oo! One more thing...

    DH's family does "The Red Plate", where on your birthday or for an big achievement (good grades, getting a job, etc, etc, etc) at dinner time you eat off of a red plate. During the meal, everyone takes turns saying something that they like or appreciate about you. At the end you have to say something positive about yourself too. 

    When I first had to do this tradition with DH's family, I found it really awkward... I'm from a family that wasn't big on verbal affirmation. But it is SO great... it really means so much to the person in questions, and they hear nice things about themselves that they big never otherwise. It's a big self-confidence booster.  


    Lilypie Third Birthday tickersLilypie First Birthday tickers


    Report Reply
  • sophie206sophie206 member
    imagejoyfullyfound:

    Oo! Oo! One more thing...

    DH's family does "The Red Plate", where on your birthday or for an big achievement (good grades, getting a job, etc, etc, etc) at dinner time you eat off of a red plate. During the meal, everyone takes turns saying something that they like or appreciate about you. At the end you have to say something positive about yourself too. 

    When I first had to do this tradition with DH's family, I found it really awkward... I'm from a family that wasn't big on verbal affirmation. But it is SO great... it really means so much to the person in questions, and they hear nice things about themselves that they big never otherwise. It's a big self-confidence booster.  

    We did something like this in my 3rd grade class. One kid would stand up on their chair and we all would take turns saying something good about the person. I remember being SO embarrassed when it was my turn, but I was very shy. Afterward though, I remember it felt great reflecting on what people said about me. 

    DD1: Maya 05/10
    DD2: Lucia (Lucy) 07/13
    Report Reply
  • Rink08Rink08 member
    We usually do stickers, coloring books, a few extra minutes to play before bed depending on the reason they are getting a reward.

    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
    Our Family Blog Weightloss Blog
    image
    Report Reply
  • EnglishMajor03EnglishMajor03 member
    imagejoyfullyfound:

    Oo! Oo! One more thing...

    DH's family does "The Red Plate", where on your birthday or for an big achievement (good grades, getting a job, etc, etc, etc) at dinner time you eat off of a red plate. During the meal, everyone takes turns saying something that they like or appreciate about you. At the end you have to say something positive about yourself too. 

    When I first had to do this tradition with DH's family, I found it really awkward... I'm from a family that wasn't big on verbal affirmation. But it is SO great... it really means so much to the person in questions, and they hear nice things about themselves that they big never otherwise. It's a big self-confidence booster.  

    Wow I love this idea.  Thanks!!! 

    image
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"