Friday, April 18, 2008
Rewards
Today many parents and teachers work on the reward system. If you do all your chores you receive an allowance. Or you behave all week long you get to pick a price out of the treasure box. Kids are so focused on the reward; they don’t even focus on the task they are trying to accomplish. Saying a simple “thank you” isn’t reward enough; they want something tangible to satisfy them. If there isn’t something in it for them, then why do it? This kind of attitude isn’t a biblical one. We should be willing to serve others with an open heart. We shouldn’t be thinking what’s in it for us. God gave us the gift of salvation and this is the best reward. Our selfless acts receive rewards in heaven that will be better than the greatest reward we could receive here on earth. It’s not a bad thing to teach kids that working hard or behaving yields rewards, but also teach them that you don’t always need something out of it. Doing it to please others and please God should be the main focus.
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3 comments:
I agree. I have two kids. A boy who's 13 and a girl who's 9. If i ask them to do a simple task around the house they moan and groan, but if I give them a reward for what they should do they do it without saying a single word. A simple thanks should be enough...but not for my kids. In today's society we give rewards for everything.
Yes, I guess it's true. We do expect things, more than just a thanks! Kids I babysit do expect things if I ever ask them to help me like putting away their toys or anything. Most of the time, its a food item. We all know that's not the best idea to reward with food. I wonder how to stop that habit with them?
Is it really a reward? What you are talking about sounds more like a bribe to get the kids to cooperate. Adults and especially parents need to set boundries for children.
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