Dangers of material rewards in the education of children

In matters of education we have evolved from punitive punishment, based on punishment to a child's behavior that we do not like; towards a contrary tendency that is known as positive education and that is based on positive reinforcement to reward good behavior . The objective of education is that po

In matters of education we have evolved from punitive punishment, based on punishment to a child's behavior that we do not like; towards a contrary tendency that is known as positive education and that is based on positive reinforcement to reward good behavior.

The objective of education is that positive behaviors occur in children and suppress negative ones. This challenge is achieved much better by reinforcement than by punishment.

Positive reinforcement in the education of children

When we talk about reinforcement, we refer to any positive consequence that occurs after the child shows the behavior we want him to learn. For example, give attention when you perform a task such as putting the table to eat.

When we use positive reinforcement we can use two types of resources: El - The material reward

- The emotional reward

Rewards are a resource that parents have to motivate the behavior of the little ones is giving them rewards for their good behavior. In addition, they are very varied, such as going to the movies, hiking, etc.

Material awards in the education of children: yes or no?

The problem appears when positive reinforcement is confused with the resource of material reward. With this type of prizes we refer, for example, to buy toys, sweets, etc. We must be careful when administering this type of awards. Why?

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If we reward each child's positive behavior we run the risk of believing that the true benefit of their behavior is the gift itself. You may come to think that it is not worthwhile to strive in that which is not going to be rewarded. -

If all the prizes you receive are material , we run the risk of the child developing materialism and underestimating other types of satisfactions. He will become a professional blackmailer.Material rewards are less rewarding in the long term than emotional reinforcements. In addition, behavioral learning occurs more slowly and may even be counterproductive.

Emotional and immaterial reinforcement for children

The emotional reward only requires the time and patience of the parents, leaving aside the materialism and consumerism in which our society is immersed. There are many intangible resources, such as: a kiss, a smile, I love you, use some praise, hit a gomet, draw a smiley face, play with him, go to the park, go cycling, tell a story, etc. .

This type of immaterial rewards can be used in the incentive tables and will yield much more than material rewards, since prizes of this kind produce more pleasure than a toy because, really, what a small child craves is attention and the time shared with their parents.