What's a good way to reward kids for good grades?

Actually, real praise and noticing and encouraging the work that’s being done is a better reward, costs nothing and has longer-term returns.

I agree with @WasCy that the best thing you can do is say things like “Wow! you really worked hard on that and it shows.” or “I’m so proud of you for doing such a good job on that assignment” right when you see it happen. But instead of having a carrot on a stick, I think you could occasionally take the kids someplace fun and interesting (out of the blue) and then tell them it’s because they have been doing such a good job. An ice rink, miniature golf, a trip to the ice cream parlor, a day at the beach. But don’t hold out those trips ahead of time, just give them those treats every now and then when you’ve noticed that they’ve been doing a great job for awhile.

I like @Kardamom‘s response even better than my own. The grade is essentially meaningless, and it’s best not to reward ‘the grade’. Recognize the work, appreciate the learning, and encourage that process. Occasionally (and unpredictably) celebrate the child’s (or childrens’) work with a day or evening-long treat for them – which includes Mom and Dad participating (not just reading in a corner – although setting an example by reading as frequently as possible while not taking away from face time with the kids is also a great idea).

Celebrate learning and working for knowledge for its own sake, not for the grades or for the great jobs that it will lead to, but just because it’s a good thing all by itself.

Letting them know how wonderful they are with a big hug , once you start rewarding them with gifts then you will always have to reward them that way . Then they make you feel like you owe them for everything in life that they do .

@WasCy We only read for, like, 15 or 20 minutes while play is being done at the conclusion of the meal. I always have a book in my nose. Right now, I am reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz via free Kindle. The paperback I have is book one in a series called Murder 101. School and the classroom was always a hostile environment in my educational experience, but I still want my kiddo to be properly educated and I’ve always heard that something commenly referred to as positive reinforcement to be utilized as a conjunctioned parental/educational tool. I got by without the benefits of a formal education, but I know that that path less taken is less taken for a reason. I just figured that combining educational positive reinforcement with nutritional “field trips” and culinary delights would be a good starting point down the Yellow Brick Road towards the Emerald City of life.

I agree that consistent verbal praise is always the best way to reward kids’ good grades. When I was younger, I had friends whose parents would reward them with money depending on their average. My parents never did that, and not because they couldn’t afford to.

I was never overtly rewarded for having good grades, which I did all through school. My parents would occasionally take us on little trips or buy us little gifts in the way that @WasCy described, but it was never spoken of as a “reward”. Kids shouldn’t be taught that the only reason for doing well at something is the reward that you get once it’s over.

I always expected good grades so my kids didn’t feel they had done something special; it was just what they did. I always told them I was proud of them but didn’t feel that a reward was necessary. I always told them we all had a job; theirs was school. We all do a good job; that’s what is expected of us.

I say you have to reward high achievers with something tangible and then some. My boys get praise and big warm hugs all day long but what delivers the A plus GPA is something special they can see touch and feel throughout that long drawn out scholl year. Give them a brass ring to reach for and they will.

I never felt people should be rewarded for what they should be doing in the first place. My parents expected good grades once they knew I could. It’s the hard work, not the grade. Doing the best you can is just how it should be. If you only work hard because you get rewarded, what happens if there is no reward? most of life’s work is not rewarded, you just feel good inside. My kids are all hard workers, who got lots of love and praise.

When I was younger, I used to find it easy to convince my mum to lavish me with gifts after I’d achieved good grades, but that was always an afterthought on my part. I never actually thought of these rewards as motivation for doing well, they just sweetened the achievement afterwards.

I appreciated the way my dad handled things instead. Whilst I was concerned with shoving the scores under his nose, he would take the time to peruse my exam papers, encouraging me to recount the exam play-by-play. He reminded me that results are nice, but effort is where the true value lies.

We don’t grade and we do not do non-organic food matter. I think rewarding with food is a bad idea.

We do use reward charts to reward the behavior we wish to instill: chores, accomplishments and daily eating habits. For these, the rewards are quite simple x number of smileys gets either Dvd viewing of choice, special storytime, playdoh time w/mom or dad, walk to a favorite place, picnic…they grow to become a month (usually we chose 20–25 days per chart) of smileys gets a choice to the place to visit…such as the museum, the zoo, the art museum, a pottery place to paint at-etc.

We make certain to tell our son how proud we are when we see him doing things well. I make certain to notice & praise the positive as much as possible.