The right way to reward your child for good grades

Child psychologist offers advice for parents when deciding what to give

There are a lot of ways to reward your kids for bringing home good grades, but some parents may wonder if paying a child for high marks is a good idea.  Dr. Kate Eshleman, a child psychologist at Cleveland Clinic Children's, says every child is different, so it's up to parents to find out what will motivate the child to succeed.

"If the goal is to motivate a child to do well and earning money for good grades motivates them to do well then you've achieved your goal," she explained.

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Eshleman adds that money isn't the only motivation parents can consider. She says things like being able to drive, participating in sports, spending time with friends, or earning privileges at home like extra tablet or tv time are all good options. She recommends parents talk to their kids to find out what means the most to them and then use that to set goals.

"Things that are important to kids, we can make those things dependent on things that are important to parents, such as earning good grades," Eshleman said.

The child psychologist also says to be sure the reward system is not complicated, so there is no confusion when a goal is reached.