I’ve been hearing a lot about positive reinforcement in schools lately, but I’m not really sure how it works or if it’s actually effective. Does anyone know if there’s real evidence that this approach helps kids learn better? What kind of positive reinforcement are we talking about here - like stickers and praise, or something else? Just curious to hear people’s thoughts on this.
In my kids’ school, they use a point system for good behavior and completed work. The kids seem motivated by it.
My daughter’s math improved after her teacher started acknowledging small wins. She’s more confident now.
We’ve tried a few things at home that seem to help. My kid loves earning ‘learning points’ for completing tasks or trying something new. It’s like a game to them. Recently, they were struggling with fractions, so we celebrated each small step forward. Now they’re much more eager to practice math.
I’ve noticed my child is more willing to take on challenges when we focus on their efforts rather than just results. It’s been pretty cool to see their confidence grow. Curious what others have found effective with older kids as their schoolwork gets tougher.
I’ve seen positive reinforcement work well with my kids over the years. When they were younger, we used a simple star chart for completing homework and basic chores. It really got them excited about doing their work.
As they got older, we switched to a point system where they could earn privileges like extra game time or picking the weekend activity. My 14-year-old struggled with math last year, so we started celebrating small improvements. Now she’s much more confident tackling tough problems.
One thing that surprised me was how much acknowledging their effort mattered. My son used to give up quickly on challenging tasks, but pointing out his persistence when he stuck with something tough made a big difference. He’s more willing to try new things now.
It’s not a magic solution, but positive reinforcement definitely helped make learning more enjoyable in our house. Every kid is different though, so it might take some trial and error to find what works best. 
I’m curious about this too. My 5-year-old responds well to praise, but I wonder if that’s enough long-term. I’ve noticed my kid gets excited when I point out their effort in learning new things. Like yesterday, they struggled with writing the letter ‘R’ but kept trying. I made a big fuss when they finally got it. Has anyone else seen their kids become more motivated from this kind of encouragement? I’d love to hear what’s worked for older kids too. Are there any downsides to using positive reinforcement a lot?
I’ve seen positive reinforcement work wonders in our house. We started a simple reward chart for completing homework and chores. The kids get to pick small prizes when they fill up a row.
It’s amazing how much more excited they are to do their work now. My son used to avoid math, but now he asks to practice. I think feeling successful motivates them to keep trying.
We also make a big deal out of effort and improvement. Seeing their faces light up with pride is the best part. It’s not perfect, but focusing on the good stuff has made learning more fun for everyone.