Should I reward my child? Why Rewards Matter in Education (And Why Many Parents Use Them Wrongly)
- Sabreena Nazimudeen
- Jul 31
- 6 min read
Should I reward my child? Why Rewards Matter in Education (And Why Many Parents Use Them Wrongly)
Parenting is not easy.
Parents today are juggling work, responsibilities at home, and the constant concern of whether their child is learning well and developing good habits.
When it comes to motivating children to study, many parents struggle with one question:
Should children be rewarded for doing their work?
Some parents hesitate because they worry that rewards may spoil their child or encourage unhealthy habits. Others try to replace attractive rewards with things that look good from an adult perspective but do not actually motivate the child.
To understand why rewards matter, we must first understand how the human brain works.
The Reward and Punishment Circuit
Human behaviour is strongly influenced by the reward and punishment circuit in the brain.
This applies not only to children — it applies to adults as well.
When an action leads to a positive outcome, the brain releases dopamine, encouraging us to repeat that behaviour. When an action leads to a negative outcome, we become less likely to repeat it.
In simple terms:
Positive experience → repeat the behaviour
Negative experience → avoid the behaviour
This basic system drives motivation and learning in all humans.
For children, this system is especially powerful.
How Children Actually Learn
Most children do not naturally enjoy sitting quietly at a desk doing repetitive academic work.
They learn best through:
curiosity
exploration
play
meaningful incentives
In psychology, motivation is usually described as two types.
Intrinsic motivation — doing something because you enjoy it.
Extrinsic motivation — doing something because there is a reward at the end.
In reality, most people operate with a combination of both. Children are no different.
Why Some Rewards Fail
Many parents hesitate to give rewards because they worry about spoiling their child or encouraging unhealthy habits.
So what often happens is this: parents replace the reward with something that looks responsible from an adult’s perspective but is not exciting to the child.
Let’s take a simple example.
Imagine a child enjoys eating potato chips. The crunchy texture and flavour make it a fun treat.
Now imagine telling the child:
“If you finish your work, I will reward you with a potato.”
Technically, a potato is healthier.
But is eating a plain potato the same experience as enjoying a packet of crunchy potato chips?
Of course not.
The reward satisfies the parent’s idea of what is good, but it does not satisfy the child’s motivation.
A reward only works if it is meaningful and exciting to the child.
Rewards Teach Children That Effort Leads to Results
There is another important reason why rewards matter.
Rewards teach children a very powerful life principle:
When you work hard for something, you receive the reward that was promised.
This is not just about motivation. It is also about trust and integrity.
Children are constantly learning how the world works. When a parent or teacher sets a clear expectation — “If you complete this task, you will receive this reward” — the child learns something important about cause and effect.
Effort leads to results.
However, problems arise when promises are broken.
Imagine telling a child:
“If you work hard and achieve this result, I will buy you a doll’s house.”
The child works hard, achieves the goal, and feels proud of their accomplishment.
But when the time comes to give the reward, the parent suddenly decides that a doll’s house is not appropriate and replaces it with something else — perhaps a storybook or an assessment book.
To the parent, this may seem like a more responsible choice.
But to the child, something important has just happened.
The child may begin to internalise a different lesson:
Even if I work hard, I may still not receive what was promised.
Over time, this can weaken a child’s trust in systems.
The child may start to feel that:
hard work is unpredictable
promises are unreliable
effort may not lead to the expected outcome
That is not the message we want children to learn.
When we promise a reward for effort, we should honour that promise. Doing so teaches children that effort, discipline, and perseverance lead to real outcomes.
This builds trust not only in the parent or teacher, but also in the idea that hard work itself is meaningful and worthwhile.
How The Write Tribe Uses Rewards
At The Write Tribe, we recognise something important:
Writing compositions is hard work.
Students are expected to:
write compositions
correct their mistakes
complete assessment book exercises
rewrite their compositions multiple times
Rewriting is one of the most effective ways to improve writing, but it requires discipline and persistence.
So we ask a practical question:
How do we motivate children to complete this work consistently?
Our answer is simple: positive reinforcement.
When students complete additional work such as:
assessment books
compositions
rewrites
they can earn small rewards.
For many students, these rewards come in the form of game currency such as Roblox credit.
This works well because:
it is easy to distribute
it is exciting for children who already enjoy games
it gives students something to look forward to
Suddenly, completing a rewrite does not feel like punishment. It feels like working toward a small reward at the end of the effort.
Participation Is Optional
Not every child plays games, and we fully respect that.
Parents who prefer their child not to participate can simply opt out.
We are not encouraging children to download games or start gaming habits. We simply provide a reward for students who already enjoy those activities, because it is an efficient way to motivate them.
A Positive System for Everyone
At The Write Tribe, rewards are not only for students.
We believe in creating a positive ecosystem where everyone’s effort is recognised.
Rewards for Students
Students receive rewards when they complete additional work such as assessment books and rewrites.
Rewards for Parents
Parents often play a crucial role in encouraging their children to complete extra practice. When students achieve top-tier results in major examinations, we reward parents with one free lesson in the following term as a token of appreciation for their support.
Rewards for Teachers
Teachers who guide students to top-tier results also receive bonuses. This motivates teachers to encourage rewrites and maintain high teaching standards.
A Win–Win–Win System
When rewards are aligned across students, parents, and teachers, something powerful happens.
Students feel motivated.Parents feel appreciated.Teachers feel valued.
Everyone works together toward the same goal — helping the child succeed.
Final Thoughts
We hope this blogpost shed clarity on - Why Rewards Matter in Education (And Why Many Parents Use Them Wrongly)
Education requires discipline and effort.
But effort becomes much easier when there is something meaningful to look forward to.
At The Write Tribe, we believe in combining hard work with positive reinforcement. When children are encouraged, motivated, and rewarded responsibly, they are far more willing to put in the practice required to succeed.
And that practice is what ultimately turns struggling writers into confident ones.
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