How do you feel about OCCASIONAL bribery when it comes to getting a child to do something?

Question

And I do mean occasional....

i.e. - Clean your room and you can have extra dessert after dinner...

Behave at the store and you can have a toy or candy...

Sit still for a while and you can have extra TV time...

Answer 1

isn't that a reward for good behavior? it'd only be a bribe if you gave them b4 wouldn't it?

Answer 2

I don't believe in bribing children at all.  Cleaning the bedroom I allow them to do on their time schedule not mine.  I just shut the door.  If they can't behave in the store they don't go to the store.  I leave them with a sitter or a relative.  My children don't get extra television time.  They get an hour a day period.  I don't argue, I don't negotiate, I don't bribe.  I set rules and expect them to be followed, if not then they don't earn their privliges.

Answer 3

whatever works for you and your child, you call it bribery, i call it positive reinforcement  lol.

Answer 4

Congratulations... rewarding for positive behavior (aka bribery) is much better for everyone in the family instead of saying NO and disciplining all the time.

You don't mention how old your child is but if he/she is 3 or older, you might want to consider using a sticker chart. I created one for my daughter and it includes things like "Make your bed", "Give mom/dad hug", "Brush your teeth", etc. The "chores" are listed in each row of the chart and each day of the week is listed at the top of the columns. Before bed each night, we review how she did and she gets a star for each accomplishment. Once she gets a certain number of stars, then she gets a treat.

She really enjoys it and it makes me happy to not have to bribe for every single activity.

I made my own chart using MS Excel but you can find some templates online here:

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6wMf5NIL2...

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6wMf5NIL2...

Good luck!

Answer 5

I do it!!!

Whatever works and makes life easier for everyone at the time.

Go for it!!

Answer 6

don't bribe!

treat them when they do right on their own

Answer 7

there is nothing wrong with this at all.  my 2 year old loves , and i mean loves, stickers.  so if he makes a mess, i will tell him "help mommy clean this up and i'll give you a sticker"  you should see how quick he gets up to help. and my son also loves bath time.  he knows that if hes good in the bath then afterwards he gets a Popsicle with daddy.  if little things like this makes our lives easier then whats the problem

Answer 8

Don't think of it as bribery. Think of it as a reward system. When they do something good they get rewarded, but just the same if they don't do something, they need to know that something will be taken away. And I don't mean, not rewarding them. I mean actually take something away like, TV time for the night, or early bed time.