Do NOT Promise Incentives
I have 3 very creative boys and a full set of inventive students year after year. Believe me when I say I KNOW how tempting it can be to resort to offering rewards or incentives for getting work done. I. Get. It! But don’t take the easy out with this one! The minute you offer rewards for completing homework is the minute you’ve just tied your hands behind your back. Your children will expect it forever more and are smart enough to know how to keep the offers coming. The facts are simple: Homework is not an option and you do homework with the reward of learning and growing, not toys and prizes. The real world doesn’t offer candy and prizes every time I complete tasks for my job so why should I train my children to expect as much? The only rewards that should be offered to children for completing homework are compliments and high praises. These will mean far more to your children than any replaceable toys or food!
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