Rewards and Punishment- A continuing debate.

Children learn most of their behaviors by associating them with consequences. If a child cries for a toy, he may get it (a pleasant consequence, a reward), or he may be punished for crying (an unpleasant consequence, a punishment). Either consequence, especially when repeated over time, can lead to a behavior pattern- the child cries when he wants something or he learns to hold back his crying. Pleasant consequences (rewards) are usually more effective behavior modifiers than unpleasant consequences (punishment). It is not only the type of reward, but also how it is used that determines how effective it will be. Rewards can be either tangible or intangible. Tangible rewards can include things like toys, books, favorite foods or other special gifts. At school it might be a sticker or a star on a good piece of work. For an older child, a financial reward is often a way of encouraging good behavior. Intangible rewards include praise, time with Mom or Dad for a special activity, or it can be something as simple as extra play, TV or computer time. Showing interest in completed work and projects, or in schoolwork in general are intangible rewards that can work. But even with this in mind there is still debate about the merits and demerits of award systems. Some issues surrounding the debate are-:

The debate is usually based on the issue of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation- i.e extrinsic rewards such as tokens, money, privileges etc have not been proven to be effective in the long run. These can lose their value if overused. Research tells us that it is more important to develop the intrinsic motivation. Behaviors will be more long-lasting if they are developed based on wanting to be good or do well for its own sake rather than for some external reward.

The reward must also be meaningful to the child. What we think of as a privilege for one child may in fact may be a punishment for another and vice versa. Staying in from recess may be punishment for the child who is outgoing, but may be a blessing in disguise for the shy child.

Some dos and don'ts of using rewards and punishment include:

· Reward only occasionally and vary the reward. Overuse leads to ineffectiveness.

· Reward extra effort. When your child does more than expected, and is rewarded for it, the reward becomes motivation to continue to go beyond the call of duty.

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