I’m trying to find alternatives to buying stuff for my kids as rewards. Any ideas on how to show appreciation or celebrate their achievements without resorting to toys or treats? Looking for suggestions that don’t involve spending money but still make them feel special. Thanks!
I’ve been thinking about this too. My 5-year-old is just starting to do little tasks, and I want to make it fun without always buying things.
We tried a ‘special helper’ day where my kid got to be my assistant. They loved helping me cook dinner and felt so grown-up. It was really sweet.
I’m curious about what others do for older kids. Do your kids ever lose interest in these kinds of rewards? How do you keep it exciting as they grow?
I remember wrestling with this too. For my kids, I started using special time together as a reward. My daughter loved when I’d take her for a hike on Saturdays if she finished her chores. My son was all about getting to pick the movie for family night.
We also did ‘Mom’s helper’ days where they’d get to be in charge of something usually reserved for adults, like planning dinner or helping with a house project. It made them feel important and grown-up.
Sometimes, simple things worked best. Extra bedtime stories for my younger one or letting my teen stay up a bit later on weekends were hits. And don’t underestimate the power of sincere praise – telling them specifically what they did well always lit up their faces. 
These rewards brought us closer and didn’t cost a dime. Plus, the kids seemed to value these experiences more than stuff in the long run.
We found non-material rewards worked well. Extra screen time on weekends was a hit. So was staying up 15 minutes later. My kids love choosing the weekend activity or dinner menu. It gives them a sense of control and doesn’t cost anything extra.
In our family, we’ve found that creating special traditions around achievements works really well. When the kids do something great, we let them pick a fun family activity for the weekend. It could be anything from a board game night to a backyard campout.
We also use a ‘treasure box’ filled with slips of paper listing different privileges. Things like picking the music in the car or staying up 30 minutes later. When they earn a reward, they get to pick from the box.
One thing that’s been surprisingly effective is letting them teach us something new. My daughter taught us all her favorite dance moves after mastering a tough math concept. It made her feel so confident and proud.
These little moments of recognition seem to mean a lot to them. And it’s nice to celebrate without adding more stuff to the toy bin.
I’ve found that turning rewards into experiences can be really effective. My kid loves when we have a special movie night with popcorn after finishing a big project. We also do ‘adventure days’ where they get to plan an outing, like a picnic or exploring a new park.
Recently, we started a ‘privilege jar’ where they earn marbles for responsibilities. They can trade these for things like choosing dinner or having a friend sleepover. It’s been great for teaching decision-making too.
Ultimately, I think kids just want to feel seen and appreciated. Sometimes a heartfelt ‘I’m proud of you’ note or extra one-on-one time means more than any toy.