I’ve been trying to motivate my kids with different rewards but I feel like they’re not really working anymore. Like they get excited for maybe a day and then it’s back to the same behavior. Anyone have suggestions for rewards that actually stick and mean something to kids? What has worked for your family?
My kids care more about time together than stuff. Movie nights where they pick everything or letting them help cook something they actually want - that’s what matters. The shiny new things get boring fast, but they’re still talking about those moments weeks later.
We hit this same wall last year. Sticker charts and extra screen time suddenly meant nothing to my kid. What worked way better was letting him earn privileges instead of stuff. Things like staying up 30 minutes later on weekends or picking what we’re having for dinner excited him much more because they felt grown-up. The excitement lasted longer since he felt trusted with real choices.
Looking back, we screwed up by using the same rewards forever. My kids got excited about video game time at first, but after a few months it wasn’t special anymore - just expected.
Game changer was mixing up the rewards and keeping some unpredictable. My 14 year old might earn a chore pass for next week, or my 17 year old could skip grocery shopping duty. They never knew what was up for grabs, so they stayed curious.
Timing’s huge too. Daily rewards got boring fast, but weekly ones held their attention. My teenagers care way more about earning freedom or dodging stuff they hate. Took some trial and error to crack what actually motivates each kid 
The rewards that work are the ones that feel rare and special, not just routine stuff.
I’m facing the same issue with my kid. Stickers used to be a big hit, but now they just roll their eyes at the mention of it. I realize that what excites them changes as they grow, so maybe rewarding them with experiences could be a better approach. Have you found that different rewards resonate more at various ages? I’d love any suggestions on how to make that shift.
I totally understand where you’re coming from! We’ve had a similar experience. What really helped was discovering what truly excites my kids. For instance, my youngest loves animals, so we use that as a reward - things like trips to the pet store or letting her look up fun animal facts online. My older child, on the other hand, enjoys art, so new supplies or extra creative time became much more appealing than other options.
The best part though is simply asking them what they would like to earn. Their suggestions are often pretty simple, like staying up later to finish a chapter or having a friend over. When they have a say in their rewards, they seem much more motivated to earn them.