The Importance of Immediate Reward for Appropriate Behavior in Early Childhood Education

Everyone wants a well behaved child. It seems that every child seems to want to misbehave in the most pubic of situations. So what is the best way to affect behavior in early childhood? Children respond in a positive manner to immediate rewards.

Kali is about nine months old and her long term memory is not fully developed by any means. Her short term memory is hard at work all day long. When she is at the piano banging away with her little hands she is enjoying the activity, but she is looking for the reward. When Mama claps and says "Bravo", she smiles with pride at 9 months old. She is already looking for and responding to the immediate reward. Why?

The attention span of a young child is very short and for immediate reward systems to work the child has to sense the cause and effect of a situation. If I pick up a toy and put it in the basket, something happens. Think of the toys designed for young children. They are all based on immediate rewards. If I push this button, music is played. If I open this box, something pops out. It's all about cause and effect and if you can the child link the two you have a win-win situation.

When you are establishing your immediate rewards it's important to keep food out of the equation. Although it is very easy, it develops bad habit. So what are some immediate rewards that you can use for early childhood?

*When we get the toys in the basket we can go outside. Follow the action with praise. "Thank you for putting the toys in the basket, now we can go outside together."

*After we take a bath Daddy can read us a book. "Great job on the bath. Let's find Daddy to read us a story."

*Thank you for being extra quiet while Jamie was talking. Here is your hug."

*You did a great job with those clothes let's put a sticker up here."

Don't you wonder what would happen in the world if for just one day everyone focused on good behavior? I am not able to try it in the world, but in my early education classroom I can do it for ten minutes at a time. I can ignore bad behavior and reward good behavior and watch the tide turn. I can say "We will go outside when everyone has their coat or sweater. Great job on getting your warm things put on. Remember we will go outside when everyone has on their coats. Justin thanks for putting on your sweater it looks like you are ready. Sarah great work, you must be excited to go outside. "Eventually even the toughest cookie will be harassed by his/her classmates, but rewarded by you when the child gives in and puts on the coat. Let's assume that little Jessica just plain refuses. You use another aid or teacher. "We are going outside and Jessica chooses not to get her coat. We are going to leave her on this chair until she decides to join us. The other teacher doesn't reason or converse. (No reward in being ignored.) Just puts the sweater in the child's reach and makes sure she stays on the chair. She simply sits until the class comes back or she puts on her sweater.

Try it just for 15 minutes a day and soon you will be addicted to immediate rewards for great behavior.