?about rewards given at school?

[Tink123]

Okay here's the deal... I am a second grade teacher and I sent home our Second Grade Syllabus that states that we have a reward system where we use cokes, popcorn, candy, hugs, etc. I had a parent email me and ask me to change two of the rewards bc she did not encourage or allow her daughter to have candy or coke. She did not ask me to change them for her daughter, but to change them for the class and proceded to list things I could use instead.
BTW I do have a other things for kids who are diabetic, braces, or just don't care for what I have, like stickers, pencils and water is always an alternative, and believe it or not a lot of kids choose water over coke at our good behavior popcorn parties.

Do you think I should revamp my rewards system to fit this one child?

 

[Microcell]

I hate when parents do that! My DS though would not find coke or popcorn rewarding though. You would have a bad seed there. I guess if you want to, maybe an alternative for her kid and tell the mom that no other parents have a problem with coke and popcorn so you will continue that for the others.

 

[RadioNate]

I'm torn.

As a parent I don't think I would like my child being given any of those things as a reward at school. He's 4 but we don't do Coke, candy, chocolate etc and I can't imagine that in a few years I'd want a teacher giving him those things as a reward.

BUT I wouldn't expect a teacher to change everything for my child. I assume it has always been the same and other parents haven't protested.

I think a system of non-controversial rewards (like non food items) would be better but I'm not sure I"d ask for an entire system to be changed.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well, I am not a teacher and I don't know what to say about that. That is very bold of a parent. Normally a parent would ask that her dd be given an alternative to the candy or coke.

I don't know what your answer should be but I do know that as long as kids get a "reward" at that age they don't care.

My dd is in 3rd grade and she got to pick from the reward jar. She has her choice of many, many things. None are food, candy or drinks.

It is things like free homework pass, bring a stuffed animal from home, eat with a friend for lunch, add ten points to a test, stuff like that.

 

[Tink123]

I'm torn.

As a parent I don't think I would like my child being given any of those things as a reward at school. He's 4 but we don't do Coke, candy, chocolate etc and I can't imagine that in a few years I'd want a teacher giving him those things as a reward.

BUT I wouldn't expect a teacher to change everything for my child. I assume it has always been the same and other parents haven't protested.

I think a system of non-controversial rewards (like non food items) would be better but I'm not sure I"d ask for an entire system to be changed.

It has worked for 12 years. I do have non food items, but she did not have a problem wiht those.

 

[Tink123]

Well, I am not a teacher and I don't know what to say about that. That is very bold of a parent. Normally a parent would ask that her dd be given an alternative to the candy or coke.

I don't know what your answer should be but I do know that as long as kids get a "reward" at that age they don't care.

My dd is in 3rd grade and she got to pick from the reward jar. She has her choice of many, many things. None are food, candy or drinks.

It is things like free homework pass, bring a stuffed animal from home, eat with a friend for lunch, add ten points to a test, stuff like that.

Those are some good ideas, could you PM me with more? I knew this would be helpful to post.

We are having a hard time at school with food, we have gone peanut free, and that is working well, however we are having a hard time with rewards. We use food and they can earn 1 snack per week, we eat snacks at first recess since we eat at noon. THere are other options that they can choose,school supplies, stickers small toys, etc. But I like the free stuff. Parents are wonderful and supply all the snack choices.

 

[RadioNate]

It has worked for 12 years. I do have non food items, but she did not have a problem wiht those.

As long as there is a non jumk food choice I don't have a problem. If junk food snacks were the only option I'd be disappointed but wouldn't expect a teacher to revamp an entire system when I was the only one with a problem.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Wow! No offense, but I'm surprised that the school allows you to give out candy and coke as rewards. Ours is very strict about nutrition, and as a parent, I love it that way. The "coke machine", doesn't even have coke in it, only fruit juice and bottled water.

American kids are getting more and more obese, and the reason is less physical activity, plus too much junk food. I think I'd be upset if my kid's teachers were giving them junk food as a reward, too. I think sends the wrong message, and I think as a place of learning, schools should try to encourage healthy eating habits, not unhealthy ones.

Again, I mean no offense to you in saying this. I know candy is a commonly-used reward for kids, and a lot of people see no problem with it. My kids aren't deprived, they eat candy too, but I want their dad and me to be the ones who decide when and where, not their teachers.

 

[Blondy876]

I think that as long as there are choices other than junk food and soda you have no reason to change a thing. I would tell the parent that there are other reward options that her child can choose from (maybe even tell her you won't allow the food and soda to be an option for her child specifically) but you are not changing your policy.

But I have to say I think your going to have a very long year.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Those are some good ideas, could you PM me with more? I knew this would be helpful to post.

How about I just share here....Now this is a "Reward Coupon".
My dd acquired the coupon this way...

During the week in class when a student does something "extra", behaving etc... they get their name on a "Coupon" which goes into a jar. On friday the teacher draws 2 names from the jar and they get a coupon.
On the coupon it says the following...She gets to pick one

An item from the reward box (trinkets, I suppose)
Homework Coupon
Sit with a friend in class
Write with a pen for the day
Bring in a fruit drink
Use the rolling chair for a day
Bring in a stuffed animal
No morning work
Bring in a portable CD player
Teach a short prepared lesson
Bring a pillow to school
Sit on the bean bags for "DEAR" (reading time)
Eat with a friend at lunch
Add 5 bonus points to any test
Eat with the teacher in the room

 

[Tink123]

Wow! No offense, but I'm surprised that the school allows you to give out candy and coke as rewards. Ours is very strict about nutrition, and as a parent, I love it that way. The "coke machine", doesn't even have coke in it, only fruit juice and bottled water.

American kids are getting more and more obese, and the reason is less physical activity, plus too much junk food. I think I'd be upset if my kid's teachers were giving them junk food as a reward, too. I think sends the wrong message, and I think as a place of learning, schools should try to encourage healthy eating habits, not unhealthy ones.

Again, I mean no offense to you in saying this. I know candy is a commonly-used reward for kids, and a lot of people see no problem with it. My kids aren't deprived, they eat candy too, but I want their dad and me to be the ones who decide when and where, not their teachers.

I teach in a private school and I must say that we have very lean children. Our third grade is going to participate in a eat healthy and wlaking program and we all laugh, because they are more lean than most and we are a very sports oriented school. Which BTW I believe sports have there place in school, but sometimes it's overboard.

 

[Tink123]

I think that as long as there are choices other than junk food and soda you have no reason to change a thing. I would tell the parent that there are other reward options that her child can choose from (maybe even tell her you won't allow the food and soda to be an option for her child specifically) but you are not changing your policy.

But I have to say I think your going to have a very long year.

I think so too. You guys may be my support, so it may be long for us all!!!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

The same way you would not change your entire curriculum for one child - I don't think you should change your reward system for one child. The mother in question can instruct her child not to pick the pop and candy as rewards, if that is what she feels she needs to do.

Every time her child goes to another child's home, is she going to ask that all pop and candy be removed from the home before her child enters? How about when they go to movies with friends? Ballgames? Where does it end?

IMO, people need to get a grip and teach moderation. One Coke or one candy bar does not an obese child make.

 

[sjh801]

I think that as long as there are choices other than junk food and soda you have no reason to change a thing. I would tell the parent that there are other reward options that her child can choose from (maybe even tell her you won't allow the food and soda to be an option for her child specifically) but you are not changing your policy.

But I have to say I think your going to have a very long year.

I totally agree. We always seem to have at least one of those each year.

 

[JulyGirl]

I think you were too specific with the rewards. Like you said, there are other choices. Everyone does not have to have soda. I wouldn't change it for one kid.

 

[kejoda]

I don't thnk she has any right to tell you what you can offer for someone's elses kid.

My son John is a candy addict. Would eat it with every meal. But for some reason I can only recall him choosing candy once. The teacher even called me she was so shocked.LOL It just happened to be on a morning when he wouldn't eat breakfast so it was understandable.

You could divide up the treats in different boxes so you don't have candy available every week.

 

[mom2boys]

I don't see a problem with your rewards. If that parent doesn't approve of certain rewards, she can instruct he child to choose non-food rewards. BTW my son is allergic to peanuts. I don't expect/demand that the classroom or school be penut free. My son will refuse anything he suspects might have come in contact with a nut. It's never been a problem.

I am still upset that the alpha-phonics teacher stopped giving her monthly rewards when a group of students stole her stash. I even replenished the stash annonously but she refuses to allow give the reward even though they caught the perpetrators & they admitted to it.

 

[Tink123]

I don't see a problem with your rewards. If that parent doesn't approve of certain rewards, she can instruct he child to choose non-food rewards. BTW my son is allergic to peanuts. I don't expect/demand that the classroom or school be penut free. My son will refuse anything he suspects might have come in contact with a nut. It's never been a problem.

I am still upset that the alpha-phonics teacher stopped giving her monthly rewards when a group of students stole her stash. I even replenished the stash annonously but she refuses to allow give the reward even though they caught the perpetrators & they admitted to it.

The peanut free thing is sort of scarry for us, this child could go into shock you eat peanuts and talk to her, if she consumes them or touches them. But that is another thread all together.

 

[Tink123]

I agree with moderation, it's not like we give them a whole coke, it's a 4 oz cup and it's maybe three times a year.

Candy is an option most of the time, but it is like a snack size candy bar, smarties or a sucker.

I told the mother that I respected her decision not to allow her daughter to have coke or cand and the she needed to tell her to choose an alternative when available, and that with coke, the alternative may be water, whick some children choose.

I just have a feeling that I have not heard the last of this from her.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

IMO, people need to get a grip and teach moderation. One Coke or one candy bar does not an obese child make.

I'll assume you're talking about me, since I'm the only one who voiced an opposition to using junk food as rewards in school.

I do teach my kids moderation, that's why I don't use junk food as a reward. It teaches kids to eat when they're not hungry as a reward to themselves. It may not make your child obese over the course of one school year, but it instills bad eating habits that may last a lifetime.

Google "junk food as reward" and you'll find many articles that advise against this practice.