43
Various methods motivate kids to do well
By christine keeling
Valley children will be coming home with report cards over the next few weeks, and though taking out a wallet to reward good grades can motivate some students, it’s not the only way parents can promote academic success.
“Paying kids for getting good grades isn’t the best way,” said Steven R. Flora, professor of psychology at Youngstown State University. “But it’s not harmful.”
He said he found, during a study he completed, that children who are rewarded for good grades got better grades in college and reported enjoying the experience more. Flora is the author of “The Power of Reinforcement.”
Marie Dockry said that as a counselor for sophomores at Austintown Fitch High School, she tries to give positive reinforcement to students who generally demonstrate they are respectful, kind to others and do well in the classroom. But as a parent, she doesn’t reward her children with money.
She said she hears her students most often say their parents won’t allow them to get their driver’s license or keep a cellphone if they don’t improve their grades.
It’s a practice Dockry agrees with, because higher grades are an indicator of a child who is being responsible and making sound decisions, she said.
Flora said there are many ways to motivate students to perform better at school.
He said some kids will settle for a hug and kiss, or a “Good job, Johnny, Mom really appreciates your hard work.”
Other parents might have success by setting up academic contingencies with reinforcers such as saying, “When you finish your homework, you can go play football or a video game.”
When he was young, Flora said he had trouble spelling. His father would give him a test and make him write missed words five times each. Afterward, Flora said they played ping-pong together and sometimes at the end of the week, he received a comic book.
“There’s nothing wrong with giving an allowance for good work. We get paid for doing our work,” said Flora. A reward “doesn’t always have to be money or a video game but can be quality time with a parent.”
Asking your child questions about what they learned, meeting their teacher and providing a quiet area for studying are tips the Ohio Education Association’s website offers parents to help your child succeed in school. Praise helps, the website says.
Flora suggested parents should begin having children associate academics with a positive experience when they are young. Ideally, rewards for children’s accomplishments should be daily, Flora said.
Dockry said she stresses to students that good grades will enable them to get scholarships and have more opportunities as adults.