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Food Service: Alternatives to using Food as a Reward

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		Alternatives to using food as a Reward Approved Snacks Approved Vending Machine Products Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Healthy Party Ideas Healthy Snack Information Lunch Nutrition Information

At school, home, and throughout the community children are offered food as a reward for "good" behavior. Often these foods have little or no nutritional value but are easy, inexpensive, and can bring about short-term behavior change.

There are many disadvantages to using food as a reward.

It encourages overeating of foods high in added sugar and fat.
It teaches children to eat when they're not hungry as a reward to themselves.
It teaches children to connect food to mood.
It undermines healthy habits valued by some parents and taught in school.

Children learn preference for foods made available to them, including those that are unhealthy. Palates can eventually adapt to prefer unhealthy choices so that healthy choices are then rejected. Unhealthy diets are causing many health problems and do not support academic success. Adults can prevent this from happening by providing healthy choices at appropriate times and not rewarding children with unhealthy food.

"The best policy is to reinforce children in ways that support health. At minimum, children should not be rewarded using low-nutrition foods and beverages."

The value of rewarding children in ways that support health

Rewards are an effective way to encourage desired behaviors. When fostering a new behavior, it is important to consistently and positively reinforce the behavior. As the behavior becomes habit, rewards can be tapered and then discontinued altogether.
The ultimate goal of a reward is to help internalize the positive behavior so that the reward is no longer needed. Eventually, self-motivation will be sufficient. Since each child is different, it is up to the teacher, parent, or community to determine the desired behavior and when to reward.
Likewise, rewards given without much thought, as a matter of routine, or for substandard work are not meaningful. Achievement worthy of reinforcement may not be related to the final grade, but relative to an individual student's effort.

Physical activity and food should not be linked to punishment.

Punishing children by taking away recess or physical education classes reduces their already-scarce opportunities for physical activity. Regular aerobic physical activity improves academic achievement, concentration, math, reading, and writing test scores and can reduce disruptive behavior. Another counter-productive punishment is forcing children to do physical activity, such as laps or pushups. This teaches children to dislike physical activity (the punishment) important for maintaining wellness and a healthy body weight. Food should not be withheld as a means of punishment.

Examples of beneficial (and inexpensive) rewards for children

Social Rewards

"Social rewards" which involve attention, praise, or thanks, are often more highly valued by children than a toy or food. Simple gestures like verbal praise (including in front of others), nods, or smiles can mean a lot. These rewards affirm a child's worth as a person.

Recognition

Trophy, plaque, ribbon, or certificate in recognition of a desired behavior or a sticker with an affirming message (e.g. "Great Job").
Recognizing a child's achievement on the school-wide morning announcements.
A phone call, note, or email sent home to parents or guardians commending a child's accomplishment.
A note from the teacher to the student commending his or her achievement.

Privileges

Going first
Choosing a class activity
Helping the teacher
Having an extra few minutes of recess with a friend
Sitting by friends or in a special seat next to or at the teacher's desk
"No homework" pass
Teaching the class
Playing an educational computer or other game
Reading to a younger class
Making deliveries to the office
Reading the school-wide morning announcements
Helping in another classroom
Eating lunch with a teacher or principal
Listening with a headset to a book on tape or appropriate CD
Going to the library to select a book to read
Working at the school store
Taking a walk with the principal or teacher
Designing a class or hall bulletin board
Writing or drawing on the blackboard/whiteboard
Taking care of the class animal for a day

Rewards for a class

Extra recess
Eating lunch outdoors
Going to the lunchroom first
Reading outdoors
Holding class outdoors
Extra art, music, PE, or reading time
Listening to music while working
Dancing to music
Playing a game or doing a puzzle together
"Free choice" time at the end of the day
A song, dance, or performance by the teacher or students
A book read aloud to the class by the teacher
A field trip

School Supplies

Pencils: colored or with logos or other decorations
Pens
Erasers
Notepads/notebooks
Bookmarks
Highlighters
Markers
Art supplies
Rulers
Pencil sharpeners, grips, or
boxes
Gift certificate to the school store

Literacy

Set up a book exchange whereby parents, teachers, and students donate used books. Students can earn credit towards selecting a book from the exchange.

Sports equipment and athletic gear

Balls for the class
Hula hoop
Frisbees
Head and wrist sweat bands
Water bottles
Jump rope
NERF balls

Food Service: Alternatives to using Food as a Reward

Resources