Excelling in school
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
January 18, 2013 3:33pm CST
Kathryn is in 4th grade and Paul is in kindergarten. So this year has been quite a different year for both of them. With Paul it is because of the fact that this has been the first year that he has been going to school and with Kathryn it is because she is no longer in the primary grades and this is the first year that she actually gets real grades as opposed to the teacher simply stating that she is mastering, progressing or not getting different concepts.
This week the kids brought home their report cards for the second period of the school year. Kathryn brought home straight A's again, so I was really proud of her and Paul has mastered a lot of the skills that the children work on in kindergarten.
I took them to Dairy Queen and got them each an ice cream as a reward for them doing really well in school.
If you have children, how are they doing in school? When your children get really good grades, do you do anything to reward them for their achievements in school?
1 person likes this
13 responses
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
20 Jan 13
As you know, there has been a long time since I had school kids. But still, I think that I must do something special when my loved ones do something outstanding. Last Wednesday, I had a diner with my photographer friend as the guest of honor. Other times, I do something special for my daughters, grandchildren or friends. Congratulations for yor children. And congratulations to your children!
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
My children really have been a blessing for me throughout their lives. I know that if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be the person that I am today and for that I want to reward them every day. However, it would be spoiling them if I was to reward them too much.
@dee777 (1417)
• South Africa
19 Jan 13
It has been a decade that my kids were in school!! But reading your discussion reminded that I would also go the extra length to 'reward' them. If it was a winter report, we would celebrate with pizzas for supper, and if it was end of year report when it is summer here, it will also be ice creams at the beach.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I've already decided that if my children do continue to do as well as they've been doing this year, I will reward them at the end of the school year with a special shopping trip to pick out a new toy or something similar that they would like to have.
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
19 Jan 13
So wonderful they are doing so well. My granddaughter is in second grade. She started out the year on shakey ground do to the divorce etc. Yesterday I picked her up from school and when her dad got home he had such a wonderful report on her! When she gets a smiley face on her hand from her teacher that means she had a great day. I do take her for a treat once in a while for her good behavior. She does get good grades inspite of all that has went on for her emotionally.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
That is great that she has been able to overcome the emotional things that has been going on in her life such that she is still getting good grades in school.
My son does have weekly behavior reports and I'm always proud that he does good with those. However, I don't feel that I need to reward for those because they get to visit the treasure box at school for their good behavior.
@jenny1015 (13359)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
I feel proud myself whenever I receive the report cards of my kids and has high grades. My youngest is the achiever of the 4 kids. Ever since he started school when he was just 3 years old, he was always landed on the list of top students in class and top students for their level. I never had difficulties teaching him. I was even surprised when I just learned that he knew how to read well at 4 years old without helping him that much. That kid really amazes me! The multiplication table wasn't taught until the third grading period in Grade 1. But he managed to memorize it at 6 years old!
I treat my kids to Mcdonald's most of the time coz it is their favorite restaurant and also to Dairy Queen. My parents would usually buy them stuff and give them money as a reward.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
We do tend to do McDonalds from time to time when they've been behaving really well at home. However, it is my feeling that good grades calls for some ice cream (of course I have to admit that I wanted some as well).
@averygirl72 (38848)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
If I have kids and they are doing so well, I would surely reward them because of their effort and also to motivate them to be consistent in their performance. However, if they are not doing well or average only I will still treat them something. That's sweet! I wish my parents are like that to me, because they are too busy, even if I always get honors when I am a kid, I cannot remember them giving me some reward for being at least 4th in the class.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
Now if they were not doing well in school and it was clear to me that they were not putting in any effort, I wouldn't be able to reward them for that in my right conscious. However, there are a lot of other things that they could be doing in their lives that would be worthy of rewards.
@Happielady85 (384)
• United States
19 Jan 13
I think it is great to reward kids for getting good grades as long as you don't overdo it. I think children need to be praised.. I saw a mother who several imes responds to her daughter in a very negative way. the daughter just finished drawing a piture,and proudly held it up to her mother to view. The mother completely ignored the picture and said, "let's go." Knowing this mother, she really had no special place to go to. I felt sorry for the poor little girl for not getting some kind of recognition. Children need to be praised.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I know that I am not one to overdo rewards with the kids. The ice cream treat is something that they only get once every couple of months. The rest of the time, the rewards that they get are not physical rewards, but rather verbal rewards in the form of praise.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
22 Jan 13
hi dorannmwin I think its great to treat and praise children when they do well as it really does motivate them to keep on doing well. When our
m son did well in school. we wou ld havfe an extra pizza night for him.
m son did well in school. we wou ld havfe an extra pizza night for him. @dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
We had pizza nights as a reward when I was growing up as well. However, my children don't typically ask for pizza rewards because of the fact that they get to eat pizza at school every week and that seems to fulfill their desire for pizza most of the time.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
It is great to hear that all three of yours are doing well in school as well.
I don't really think that I have an overachiever and one that just tries to impress me, but I love seeing them succeed.
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
18 Jan 13
My 6-year old, who's in first grade has been doing really excellent in school. Specially in spelling where he's always put in the Grade 2 class when they do this as his reading level is a bit advanced as compared to his classmates -he likes reading!
They do get rewards when they do great in school. Mostly their rewards go to their games. Xbox points for my 12 year old, and Club Penguin membership for the younger one.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I do think that rewarding our children is a great way to encourage them to do well in everything that they do. We might not all reward our children in the same way, but I would venture to say that most people do reward their children.
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Jan 13
My daughter is being Home Schooled, she is graded just like in school. Right now she has an 98 average so she is doing excellent! I am very proud of her. We do reward our daughter when she does really well in school. 
I think a reward is good to give them some incentive to do well.
I think a reward is good to give them some incentive to do well.1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
In addition to rewards being a good way to give children an incentive to do well, I do think that those physical rewards from time to time are more meaningful to the children than the oral praise that they regularly get.
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Congratulations! That's really a good way for the kids to say their thanks for everything that you have done for them. I'm sure that they are in heaven while getting their DQ fix. 
I must say that you must have done also a good job on them. Im sure you're so proud of your kids. I have no kids yet, but I sure wish they would also do good in their studies.
I must say that you must have done also a good job on them. Im sure you're so proud of your kids. I have no kids yet, but I sure wish they would also do good in their studies. 1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I am filled with nothing but pride for my two wonderful children. Not only do they do well in school, but they also do well with everything in their lives as well.
@Shavkat (141905)
• Philippines
19 Jan 13
You are really a proud mother with these smart kiddos. I can still remember when my parents expressed their profound sentiments about our good grades. When I graduated with flying colors, you can see their eyes so proud to see their children having the diplomas.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I don't think that it would be possible for me to be any more proud of my kiddos than I am. I mean there are times that they do things that they shouldn't be doing, but it isn't typically something that is terrible.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
18 Jan 13
thats great !!! Its a great thing to reward them also for their efforts. Have a great weekend there. You should be very proud of them...
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I am very proud of them. I don't think that I would have chosen different children if that would have been something that I could have done.
