I admit it; rewards in the Earnee app are just more structured, sophisticated bribes.
I know I’m not alone when I say I have crouched down and pleaded with my kid while offering increasingly tantalizing bribes. I have also shouted in a panic clear across a parking lot in a desperate bid to keep my kid safe.
Tired parents everywhere use bribes and consequences in ways large and small, and often. How we describe what we’re doing changes, but it’s all the same. The reason why ad-hoc bribes and threats lose their power is because they lack consistency.
I know that before Earnee, there was no real rhyme or reason to the things we offered or threatened; it was whatever came to mind that might work at that very moment. And the follow-through was even worse.
Earnee makes it easier to consistently keep track of positive and negative actions and reward kids in a predictable way. And that’s why it works.
So, what makes a good reward? And how do you price them?
The most important thing to remember is that Earnee motivates kids because it gives them a sense of control. It’s consistent and predictable. FamBucks are theirs to gain or lose. The rewards are right there waiting for them.
This means that rewards should be tailored to each child, and preferably brainstormed with them. Then, when a reward is redeemed, there is no negotiating it – they earned it, they get it.
A reward does not need to cost money. Think about the things your children want that you often say no to (or want to say no to!) because it’s exhausting/annoying/time-consuming/inconvenient. With Earnee, you can give them a sense of control in making those things happen while ensuring they are less frequent or random. A few examples include movie nights, sleepovers, and ice cream for dinner.
The best way to think about reward pricing is to think about what it costs you in time, money, and effort. Earnee is designed to make your parenting journey easier, so don’t take a purely kid-centric approach to building your ecosystem. Yes, the rewards need to be motivating and are about control, but that doesn’t mean something difficult or expensive should be easy for your child to redeem regularly.
Instead, have a range of rewards available. Make sure some rewards cost less and are easier to earn, while others require more time and effort to achieve. The cheaper rewards give kids more immediate positive feedback and are motivating. The more expensive rewards keep the system engaging over time and teach delayed gratification.
