Do You Pay Your Children for Good Grades?

Are you one of those parents that are considering paying your children for good grades? Many parents consider paying their children for good grades at one point or another during their children's school age years. There are many pros and cons to paying your child to get a good education and doing well in school. Where do you stand on this issue? Do you pay your children for good grades?

Whether you are an outsider judging those who are paying their children for grades, or a parent trying to give motivation to their children for good grades you probably have an opinion on this issue. As a parent myself, it has been a topic that I have considered. As for children, I can tell you that they think it is a huge pro to get paid for good grades. At least mine thought it was a great idea.

However, after much consideration I decided that was not my parenting style. No one paid me to do well in school, and that is how I wanted my own children raised. So, they do not receive monetary rewards for good grades. No pay for grades here. Instead I try to show them that they want good grades for other reasons. I do not want my kids growing up to think that money is everything. I want them to get good grades because they know it is the right thing to do.

Even before my children entered elementary school, I made a mini-school area in our home. I took the time every day to sit down with them and to do school with them. I thought it was important to home school them. Both of my children showed signs at an early age of a lot of intelligence. I showed them that it was important to take pride in their work and education. Their reward was my praise and their feeling of pride in their own self worth.

Have my children struggled with their grades at times? Yes, they have. Not everyone is perfect. As long as I knew that they were putting effort into their studies they have never been punished for bad grades. If they were having trouble, I just asked that they would come to me or their father with their concerns about their education and school work. We do not get mad at our house for bad grades as long as we know that they have asked for help and that they trying their best.

One of my children came home this past quarter with straight A's. They did not get money for it. However, we did take her out for a celebration dinner. We celebrate our children's successes with family rewards. I admit I have laughed when my children have brought up the subject of some their friend's parents giving their children pay for grades because they wanted the same. It is just not my style.

Maybe some parents have found that their child really does need monetary rewards in order for their child to get good grades or just because that is how their family likes to reward their children. There is nothing wrong with that. It just not how I like to raise my own kids in their education and school life. To me self pride in a job well done is all the reward that my children should feel. There is no reason for me to reach into my pocketbook to teach them that lesson in life.