Friends Experts Korner Return to Eastside Story News and Events Positive Consequences Positive consequences, or rewards, can be a parent's best friend, because they are used to increase positive behavior. If you give only negative consequences, you run the risk of becoming a negative consequence yourself. On the other hand, when you give positive consequences, your kids find that spending time with you is more enjoyable. To some parents, it seems that using positive consequences means that kids are being bribed or paid off for doing what they're expected to do. However, rewards are a natural part of daily life.
Bribery occurs when rewards are given in the presence of inappropriate behavior.
Giving a child a candy bar when he's crying and screaming in the grocery store in order to shut him up is a bribe. Only give positive consequences for positive behavior. Using the following categories as a guide, identify what your children enjoy, and write those preferences on a sheet of paper. Keep the list handy until you know which positive consequences work with your child. You can't buy something every time your child behaves well.