Las Vegas entrepreneur, Lana Fuchs, recently made headlines with her reports of how she "bribes" her kids. When her kids get good grades she rewards them with VIP tickets to the Grammys or throws them a party with a $1 million dollar budget. She insists this helps her children stay motivated to do well and she thinks it is a great way to reward them for their hard work.
After her story hit the news parenting experts engaged in a hot debate about whether or not kids should be rewarded by their parents. Many parents wonder if rewarding kids for good behaviors, straight A's, or other accomplishments is spoiling them. Although Lana Fuch's lavish rewards aren't anything most parents could even consider an option, it does raise the question, is rewarding your kids okay?
It's important to look at the big picture. What do you want your kids to learn? If kids are rewarded with million dollar prizes for getting good grades in high school, what will they expect out of life? Giving kids too much can certainly leave them feeling entitled.
Parenting is all about balance. Giving kids too much leaves them thinking they deserve more. However, many kids require external motivation to help them reach their full potential. It's important to learn how to use rewards to motivate your kids without spoiling them or doing damage.