Rewards and incentives can be a critical component to classroom management success. They are also the perfect tool to help learners to go outside their comfort zones and learn new skills. Simply put, providing rewards and incentives encourage positive behaviors. Sometimes rewards are seen in a negative light when they are compared to bribes. This just isn’t the case! In real life, we all work for incentives and reward ourselves from time to time. After working on report card comments for a few hours, you might reward yourself with some downtime reading or watching television. You might also save a little extra money each month in order to go on a special vacation or trip, your incentive. These are adult real-life examples just to illustrate that rewards and incentives can be positive and encouraging. It is important to be mindful about how and when rewards and incentives are given, but they are a powerful tool!
When should I provide incentives? Incentives and rewards are extremely versatile. You might give a random whole-class reward when you are out sick and get a stellar report from the sub that day. This will highlight and reward the positive behaviors of the class as a whole, encouraging the same behaviors for the next time. You might also set up individual rewards with a student who is struggling with a specific behavior, such as completing homework or raising their hand in class. You could make a contract with that student and set up some rewards they will earn when they achieve their daily or weekly goal.
Why do I need a reward list? It’s important to always keep things fresh, fun, and interesting for kids. Sometimes the same old rewards and incentives can get stale or boring for students. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use them again in the future – you definitely can! It just means it’s often helpful to change things up. To help, I put together a list of over 50 reward ideas for kids. You can grab this free printable reward list and keep it in your teacher binder for reference when you need new ideas!
Reward Ideas for Kids:
- Drawing time
- Choose your seat
- Teacher helper
- Craft time
- Reading time
- Extra music time
- Extra recess or gym time
- Extra art time
- Line leader
- Half homework pass
- No homework pass
- 10-minute break pass
- 10-minute talk with a friend pass
- Choose your partner or group
- First to share
- Lunch with teacher
- Lunch with a friend
- Bonus points on test/quiz
- Extra computer time
- Sit in special seat
- Borrow principal’s chair for the day
- Choose the music
- Positive phone call together
- Visit another teacher
- Positive principal visit
- Listen to music while working
- Positive note home
- Show and tell with class
- Choose the read aloud
- Swap seats for a day
- Tell jokes to the class
- Choose from prize bin
- Special snack
- Pretend it’s your birthday
- Work in the hallway
- Write with special pen all day
- Read the morning announcements
- Get a mystery gift
- Have teacher attend after school event
- Pick out new game for class
- Pick out new classroom materials
- Choose a classroom job
- Assign classroom jobs
- Wear a hat for the day
- Borrow a game for the weekend
- Help design and put up bulletin board
- Earn a certificate
- Library pass
- Help in the office
- Help the custodians
- Help in the library
- Work anywhere in room
- Help teach a lesson
- Feed class pet
- Read to younger students
- Lesson of their choice
- Read to the class
- “Student of the Day”
- Allow student to create a club
- Invite parent for the day
- Help make the quiz/test
- Book fair certificate
- Free answer coupon
- Take a walk pass
- Royalty for the day
- Best seats at assembly
If you love this list, make sure to grab your free copy with reward ideas for elementary kids, older kids, and even whole-class rewards. What rewards would you add to the list?
This is so helpful. Thank you so much for this list. I’ve been struggling with a little one who is having a very difficult time starting/finishing her chores. Such great ideas.