Is it OK to Use Dessert as a Reward?
Posted in Parenting on 06. Oct, 2009
I will be upfront and admit that yes, I do use sweets a reward sometimes. Not all the time, but sometimes. Just the other day, we had a big evening ahead of us and it was important that my preschooler stayed in bed for her nap. Lately, she’s been getting up early and (through sleepy eyes) arguing that it’s time to get up. Without putting much thought into it, I explained to her that on that day, if she stayed in bed and slept well, she could have a cupcake when she woke up. And because it’s not often that I do this, it worked.
I certainly understand the argument that rewarding kids with treats is setting them up to have a similar approach later in life – which could lead to health issues. I think this makes good sense. I don’t want my daughter to learn that every time she does something good she gets ice cream or a cookie. That could become a problem for her, and the last thing I want to do to my kids is set them up for health and weight struggles down the road.
With that being said, I think it’s important to remember “moderation in everything.” I don’t reward her good behavior with sweets all the time, but every once in a while I’ll play that card. If we’re at the doctor’s office and she’s getting a shot, you’d better believe I’m going to reward her with a cookie! I think that there are certain circumstances where introducing the idea of a treat will help more than it will hurt.
I read this post on Mom Logic’s site today that got me to thinking, so I thought I’d post it and see what you think. What’s the verdict? Do you use sweets as rewards (or bribes!), and just how strict are you when it comes to this stuff?
Bad Idea: Eat Your Food, Get a Cookie [Mom Logic]
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