Why I Refuse to Pay My Children for Good Grades

Lately I have noticed a troubling trend in parenting, mainly paying children for getting good grades and doing their school work.

My children know that their main priority is attending school and getting and maintaining good grades. I refuse to pay them money for doing what is expected of them.

What kind of message are we sending our children by monetizing grades? Are we setting them up for failure later? If a child goes on to college will you keep paying them for getting good grades? If a child gets bad grades do you then take the money back?

Or is it better to instill in them the motivation to want to be successful and have a good work ethic? I prefer to raise my children by instilling them with the desire to self- motivate and know that hard work has rewards that exceed money, such as pride, work ethic and self satisfaction.

I have always made a big celebration when one of my children makes the honor roll, but it is never about money. Instead, it is a family celebration with their favorite dinner and much verbal praise and encouragement from the entire family. More than money, children love to be the center of attention and giving praise and encouragement has much more value than money ever could.

If they do not work to their potential and get poor grades, privileges such as video games and extra activities are taken away until the grades go back up. It is amazing how motivated a child can be to do their schoolwork when an X-box has been taken away.

While my children do have friends that get paid to get good grades, I remind them that their end goal in achieving good grades is to ensure their own future. Their "payday" is getting into a great college or getting their dream job when they become an adult.

No amount of money can instill a child to be motivated and want to be successful; this can only be achieved from having a sense of self worth and motivation.