(PDF) 101 Reward Ideas for Kids & Tips to Identify Most Effective Rewards

Reward Ideas for Kids: In this post, you will learn how to choose effective rewards for kids, and you will be able to download a FREE PDF with 101 fun reward ideas for kids

A reward is something given in recognition of one’s service, effort, or achievement.

For kids, in educational environments, at therapeutic programs, and at home, it is often used as a lay term for reinforcement or positive reinforcement. 

Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed immediately by the presentation of a stimulus (reinforcer) and, as a result, similar responses occur more frequently in the future.

An example: Your child cleans up the table, and you immediately praise their effort. As a result, your child is more likely to clean up the table next time you finish dinner.

A “reward” is a simple yet powerful tool for behavior modification.  Rewards are the reinforcer that will make more frequent the behavior we are trying to promote. In our previous example, praising was the reward.

How to Choose Effective Rewards

These are some tips to help you choose great rewards to increase the frequency of desired behaviors at home or school:

• Ask your child 
  It sounds simple, but sometimes we struggle to come up with reward ideas, and our kids are quite clear about what items or activities would be motivating.
• Offer choices or a list of options
  If your child finds it difficult to express his preference, you can:
  a) give them choices “Would you prefer to work for two songs on your IPad or a head massage?”
  b) offer a list of reward options and ask them to rank them. 
• The method above is not fail-proof. Even when your child chooses a reward, it may still not work as a reinforcer. It doesn’t mean reinforcing a behavior doesn’t work. You may need to try different reinforcers.
• Make sure your child only has access to that reward if the behavior happens. It doesn’t work as a motivator if they can find other ways to access that reward.
• The reward needs to be motivating at the time you expect the behavior to happen.
  If you offer an edible treat to your child when he has just had afternoon tea, it may not work as a good reinforcer.

Related Reading ⇒ how to implement a reward system for kids.

(Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. There may also be other affiliate links in this post. You can also read our Disclosure & Disclaimer policy here) 

 

101 Reward Ideas for Kids

You may be feeling you get stuck always offering the same few rewards to your child. 

This list of reward ideas may help you with the task:

Edible Reward Ideas

1. Ice Cream Sundaes
2. Bake Donuts
3. Let your child choose their favorite breakfast cereal
4. Bake a Cake
5. Your child can choose a restaurant for dinner
6. Pick up some Hot Cocoa at the local coffee shop
7. Tiny Candies
8. Let them choose / pack their own lunch for school
9. Add sprinkles to their peanut butter toast
10. Visit a sweet shop
11. Make cinnamon rolls
12. Candy Bar
13. Cocoa Bombs
14. Make Rice Krispie Treats
15. Let them choose which veggies to add to dinner
16. Fruit Smoothies
17. Make popsicles from juice
18. Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies
19. Granola Bar
20. Cheese Stick

 Sensory Reward Ideas for Kids

21. Get moving with Indoor Exercises!
22. Play in the Dirt
23. Have a special dessert (I could have added this one to the edible reward list, but I wanted to include an example of  gustatory sensory input)
24. Get creative with some rock painting. 
25. Listen to an Audiobook
26. Go on a nature walk
27. Build with blocks
28. Foot rub
29. Sing a song
30. Go on a special drive
31. Visit the Beach
32. Body Squeezes
33. Hand-holding
34. Cuddle on the Couch
35. Backrub
36. Play with their hair
37. Play with a sensory bin
38. Bake bread (an example of tactile, olfactory and gustatory sensory input)
39. Watch a video together
40. Play with a water table

 Social Rewards / Reinforcers

41. High five
42. Hug
43. Secret handshake
44. Play with them with their favorite toys
45. Read a book to them
46. Color with your Child
47. Applause
48. Verbal praise
49. Sharing your pride with others “Did you hear how great Sara did when she mowed the lawn?”
50. Facetime a family member
51. Go over some emotions flashcards and have a chat about feelings
52. Plan a playdate
53. Sing a silly song
54. Make up a story
55. Visit the library
56. Offer to have a friend spend the night
57. Play one of their favorite waiting games
58. Meet friends at the park

Using Activities as Reward

59. A trip to the pancake house
60. Walk to the park
61. Create a garden
62. Visit a museum
63. See the circus perform
64. Go on a walk
65. Watch a movie
66. Go skateboarding
67. Build a Lego kit together (I like this Harry Potter one)
68. Get crafting! Pull out your craft supplies and get creative together
69. A trip to the zoo
70. A bubble bath
71. Walk around the farmers’ market
72. Visit the toy store
73. Go on a hike
74. Watch a play
75. Try out a new science experiment together
76. Make playdough
77. Have a dance party
78. Paint their nails

 Tangible Reward Ideas

79. A new card game like Uno
80. A sweet treat
81. They get to choose what cereal is purchased
82. Stickers
83. Star on their chart
84. Make bathtime extra special- Get some Bath Bombs
85. New art supplies
86. X amount of extra time on an electronic device
87. Let them choose new nail polish colors
88. A special App
89. A new book
90. Yoga Cards to get out the wiggles
91. A new backpack
92. Some hair accessories
93. Let them pick out a new coloring book
94. A trip to grandparents’ house
95. Visit the pet store to look at the fish
96. A crafting kit
97. Horse riding lessons
98. An outdoor toy like a new playground
99. A new outfit
100. Temporary tattoos
101. Sports ball to encourage more play outside