Rewarding children with apps is a common practice today and writer Richard Asa from Chicago Tribune, is working on an article to surface the pros and cons of app rewards, as well as best practices. Before we come up with a list of the dangers and benefits of rewarding your kids with apps, we wanted to ask to you, our readers. Do you occasionally reward your kids with apps? Do you have any rules or tips that you can offer to other parents? Conversely, what are the downsides of this practice?
Please leave your comments here and feel free to e-mail your thoughts and stories to contact@ikidapps.com and we can connect you with Richard.
We use the ireward chart app (from GotClues, Inc). It's basically an electronic sticker chart where the kids earn stars instead of stickers. One of the rewards we have made for our kids is that we will purchase a $.99 app for 30 stars. (Rewards are for chores and behavior). The app has to be from a list that we have established as a family. All apps on that list are parent-pre-approved and the kids have also given their input. Just because the child has earned this app doesn't mean they are allowed endless hours on the device (iPod/iPad) or that others cannot play it. It is a family device, not the child's. The kids have done a great job of picking their apps; some are books, some are games, photo fun, etc.
Posted by: TB | 10/07/2011 at 07:23 AM