Do you pay your kids for good grades?

[shaylahc1]

My mom tried doing this when I was growing up and it just didn't work. The money wasn't incentive enough to work harder. I don't pay my kids for many reasons---for one, I find it ethically questionable. I agree with the PP who said children should not be paid for doing things in life they are supposed to be doing anyway. Secondly, I have children with learning disabilities. There is no level playing field at my house so it would be terribly unfair to tell my kids I will pay them for good grades and make it a goal some of the kids CANNOT reach

IMHO the only time grades really begin to matter is in high school. My oldest girl is going to high school next year and she knows if she wants to be able to go to college on a scholarship she needs to get good grades. If she doesn't get good grades, she can either live at home and get help paying for a public college nearby, or work herself to afford the things that she wants.

Life is about choices. My kids know the consequences of not doing well in school and ultimately the desire to do well or not lands squarely on them, they will be the ones to pay the price if they don't succeed (there are no free rides to college at my house!)

 

[musclemouse]

We do not pay for grading. However if my oldest has trouble in a certain subject we remind him that he wouldn't want to disappoint us or his teacher. That is usually enough to keep his grades up. Though if he gets a good report card grade for that subject then he would be rewarded. Small, but rewarded.

 

[williamson_ja]

We generally don't pay for good grades. Some of my kids are homeschooled and are expected to excell at all work done or to do it over until it is their best work. The kids that are in public school are expected to do their very best. Grades for "their very best" will look different from child to child. I know my kids and what they are capable of.

On the other hand, my dd (12) wanted to try out going to Middle School this year instead of homeschooling. I know very well what kind of work she is capable of doing. Right after she started, a new ice cream shop came into our small town that she really wanted to try out. So, I told her that if she got straight A's then I would take her at the end of the semester. I knew this was a reachable goal for her. She agreed. In the end, she got all A's and I took her to get some ice cream. It was a win-win situation. She got good grades and I got a Dole Whip. lol.