Comments on: Isn’t Reward Just a Euphemism for Bribe? http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1183 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Tue, 12 May 2026 05:18:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1183&cpage=1#comment-10387 girldetective Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:24:27 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1183#comment-10387 So far it seems to be working, and most mornings he forgets to ask for the chocolate, and I'm no longer reminding him of it when I request the behavior, so I think it's going well. So far it seems to be working, and most mornings he forgets to ask for the chocolate, and I’m no longer reminding him of it when I request the behavior, so I think it’s going well.

]]> By: elle http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1183&cpage=1#comment-10221 elle Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:45:50 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1183#comment-10221 Here's my take: bribing kids is only a bad thing if you don't know that you're doing it. Label it whatever you want and use it sparingly, and it's a terrific tool for modifying behavior. If one is in the habit of using it often, and isn't really aware that they're doing it, it's not so good. Sometimes desparate times demand despart measures.... Here’s my take: bribing kids is only a bad thing if you don’t know that you’re doing it. Label it whatever you want and use it sparingly, and it’s a terrific tool for modifying behavior. If one is in the habit of using it often, and isn’t really aware that they’re doing it, it’s not so good. Sometimes desparate times demand despart measures….

]]> By: Kate http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1183&cpage=1#comment-10181 Kate Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:21:54 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1183#comment-10181 We JUST had this discussion in our family (especially with potty training day-to-day)--but I came down on it similarly. We got our son a nice, larger than usual toy as a reward for truly extraordinary behavior during a difficult time. We didn't tell him he would get it before the difficult time, but in giving it to him, made clear why he was getting it. I thought that was a reward, rather than a bribe--exactly that part about reinforcing positive behavior. But I'm also talking about a kid who now has complex sticker to hotwheel car ratio (X stickers = one hotwheel) regarding number of times he uses the toilet in a day. We JUST had this discussion in our family (especially with potty training day-to-day)–but I came down on it similarly. We got our son a nice, larger than usual toy as a reward for truly extraordinary behavior during a difficult time. We didn’t tell him he would get it before the difficult time, but in giving it to him, made clear why he was getting it. I thought that was a reward, rather than a bribe–exactly that part about reinforcing positive behavior.

But I’m also talking about a kid who now has complex sticker to hotwheel car ratio (X stickers = one hotwheel) regarding number of times he uses the toilet in a day.

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