Reward systems for kids: what works and what doesn’t?

What is a reward system?

In a reward system, a child gets something for reaching an agreed goal: a star, a point or a coin. Once they have collected enough, they swap them for something they want. A familiar example is the sticker chart on the fridge.

What studies show about rewards

The review by Corepal and colleagues (2018) looked at rewards for healthy behaviour in children and teenagers. 19 of the studies could be analysed together: 8 on physical activity, 3 on healthier eating and 8 on smoking. The evidence was strong for eating, there was some for physical activity and little for smoking. The researchers describe the evidence base as still limited.

A second large review of 128 experiments shows the flip side (Deci, Koestner and Ryan, 1999). People who expected a reward for an activity spent less time on it voluntarily afterwards. Praise and positive feedback had the opposite effect and increased interest. In children, the downside of tangible rewards tended to be larger than in college students, and the benefit of praise tended to be smaller.

Screen time as a reward?

The German paediatric guideline advises against using screen media as a reward, a punishment or to calm a child down. This applies to children and teenagers of all ages.

If you link screen time to exercise or chores, keep an eye on the daily limit: even earned time should ideally stay within what is recommended for the child’s age.

Tips for a fair reward system

• Agree on goals together and write them down before you start.
• Choose small goals your child can manage and increase them step by step.
• Only reward what has really been achieved.
• Praise your child when something works out, even without a star or coin.
• Don’t hand out points for things your child already loves doing. A child who loves drawing doesn’t need a reward for it.
• Don’t take earned rewards away as a punishment.