by Nicki Marks

Created on: January 14, 2008

I'm not a parent yet, but I see no reason why good grades in school shouldn't be rewarded with cash. This follows a reward method where children, or even teenagers starting college, have to earn what they deserve. Let's say a teen is saving up for new tires for a car. Now, giving them that much for good grades would be overdoing it just a bit, but say $5.00 for every A, if they're taking six classes, would be $30. It doesn't break the bank for you, and it helps them to earn some money to go towards their tires. It can also encourage them to get good grades in more ways than just spending money.

Let's say your teenager wants to go on a date but they don't have a job. And it goes without saying that if they're not doing well in school you won't let them go out. So if they get cash rewards for good grades they'll be forced to study to pass, thus earning them money for the date as well as permission. It doesn't matter if they don't understand the "good moral values" they're learning about earning what they need. The point is they're learning that if they work hard they will receive money. Before long it'll be a habit. Good work = rewards.

Plus, think of the effect it will have on their education. They'll have to be making A's or B's to get rewarded (or possibly C's if they're in college). Even if the only reason they study is to pass and get the money, they will still retain some of the information. Thus they earn a better education, get higher scholarships, and have a better chance of succeeding in college.

Which brings me to my final point: college. Let's assume you're paying cash rewards to your high school student. Think of all the positive outcomes this can have. First, it will encourage them to keep their grades up. As I've already stated, this means a better chance of getting into college. It also raises their chance of succeeding once they get there. Why? Because they'll have already learned how to study. Studying equals good grades, better job offers, and being able to keep their scholarships for the next year. After all, scholarships are rewards for good grades right? Why not get them in the habit of using their education to earn money so they'll be ready when it comes time for those grades to really count.

Now I'll admit that if not handled properly this idea can backfire. You don't want to set unrealistic goals for your child. They might get frustrated and resort to cheating or other methods for making the grade. It's also not a good idea to set the reward amount too high. Then they may think they can get rewarded for doing virtually no work. But if used correctly, then cash rewards are a wonderful way to prepare a child for the real world that lies ahead of them.

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