Daniel A. Bochner, Ph.D.

There are many different kinds of reward systems. The simplest possible way to structure a reward system is to give kids privileges when you feel satisfied with them and take away all their privileges when you're not satisfied with them (please see article, The Satisfaction Meter). Some people just want a few specific activities to go right, or want the kids to complete their chores. If that's all that's needed, a simple chart on the refrigerator will do. The Sample Reward System presented here is relatively comprehensive. It is meant for people who want to really get things on track, and who are willing to work pretty hard at it. Please read the points beneath carefully to fully understand how the thing works. The items of focus within each part of the day can be changed to suit any child. The items chosen here were designed for a 12 year old boy. Younger children, of course, need very simple target goals.

1. The purpose of a reward system is to motivate children without frustrating parents. Kids do better when their behavior is not associated with being "bad" children, but is associated with success and getting what they want.

2. Four out of Five things done to earn a chip. Items with asterisks (*) must be done.

3. If the ability to earn a reward is lost during one period, start the next period immediately so all time will be covered by the system.

4. With behaviors (arguing, talking back, doing what your told the first time), two warnings.

5. Parents are the judge and jury.

6. Create full list of what can be earned: screen time, trip to movies, desserts, time with one parent or the other, phone, etc.

7. Privileges are given at parents’ convenience.

8. Chips are given at specific time. You might want the kids to be responsible for coming to you for the chips. You don’t want to be in the position of remembering whether or not chips were earned several days after the fact.

9. Everything will depend upon the rewards being rewarding enough without being too rewarding. Some kids will save chips and then not care about earning them because they have so many. Some kids won’t think what they can earn is worth the effort. So as their parents, you have to know what they will find rewarding. Like money, the reward must keep them working. Also, like money, becoming rich will likely result in laziness.

10. Encourage spending of chips so that not too many will be saved up and result in your kids feeling like chips are not worth earning.

11. Only give privileges for free if you are really doing it for yourself. If you want to go to the movies, you can go and take the kids. But if they want to go, they need to have some chips.

12. Consequences are still necessary when bad behavior is out of hand. For example, screens can be taken away for a week and thus become one reward that cannot be earned through the system.

13. Make laminated chart and get dry erase so kids can keep track themselves.

14. Sometimes it works well to give kids an added bonus for earning a certain number of chips during a week. For example, you can give a gift of any amount you think is appropriate for earning 14 of 21 chips in a week.