I remember one morning in Melbourne, while I was in fifth grade, I was on the race with a boy from the 6th grade to win our weekly school marathon. Usually I was just chatting while jogging with my girlfriends. That day.., somehow, I really wanted to win the marathon. I was motivated. The price was a pin with " grand prize" writing on it. Simple.., nothing fancy. But it could motivate me to win the race. I was trying sooo hard as I approached the finish line. The principle was there…., waiting for us with the pin, unfortunately, I lost. The boy reached the line few seconds before me. Yet, I was still proud of myself. I thought coming second was a record for me. My goodness!!! The power of reward…, you won’t believe how powerful it is no matter how small the reward is……
Remember how you hated "Senam Kesegaran Jasmani?" or " Senam Pagi Indonesia..? Come on!! Don’t tell me you like it…..:). Yeah..I know how boring it was…(Do they still have students to do it nowdays? I hope not). I still remember how lazy we were whenever we had this "SKJ", especially girls. We just move up and down..up and down, without sweating and without any goal……If teachers were looking at us then we pretend to do it so nicely….:)
Again while we were in Melbourne, my brother Andy, was doing his movement so energitically…,that made him the winner of that morning exercise. I can’t remember what his reward was.., but it’s enough to make me did my excercise better the next day!!…Yeah.., he was my rival….:).
I think our school did not motivate students enough. They take everything for granted. Hopefully, it’s different these days.., if it’s still the same…..parents…please be aware..: Give your child a reward.., no matter how small their accompilshment. You don’t have to wait for her/him to become number one in her/his class to recognize him. Start from something small……..
My daughter Nabila, was so motivated to read or to be read story everyday…just because she will get a free personal pan pizza if she can read 275 minutes per month. We record what books we read..and minutes we spend everyday. MasyaAllah, the pizza costs like $4.75 or something….., and I could buy that pizza for her….But, when she did get that pizza as a reward…, you can tell that she became so proud of herself. She felt like she accompilshed something. It’s enough to make her reminds me to read for her everynight. Thank you Pizza Hut!!!
I tried to motivated my kids with all kind of stuffs. This month, everytime they learn Qur’an, recite Qur’an, or review their lessons, I give them penny. One penny for each surah or one penny per lesson. I know I’m kinna a cheap..:)
At the end of the month, InsyaAllah, we’ll bring the pennies to the bank, and go out for shopping. They can ask anything they want…(within budget offcourse…:). I think it motivates them enough to learn or read and teach them that to get/buy something you need to earn it. You just can’t go to the store and ask whatever you want…Right?? So, yeah…..next month if this reward is not working as effectively.., then I have to figure out what works better..
Ideas? anyone????
