Health and Rewards for Kids: Striking a Balance

Amy Williams - 29 Jun 17

Any parent will tell you that raising a child is no easy task – especially when your kid is in a bad mood. Even the most experienced parents find themselves losing the battle against a cranky toddler; they threaten (I’m gonna count to three), they beg (please, please get in the car), and occasional they bribe (take two more bites of broccoli and I’ll let you have dessert).

This behavior is par for the parenting course, but that doesn’t mean it always should be. In fact, bribery – or any other scenario when sweets is a reward – might end up doing more harm to our children than good.

The Trouble With Treats

Look around at your nearest playground, and it’s easy to see the dangers of food-based reward system for kids. The CDC reports that one-third of all children between ages 2 and 19 are obese, and the excess weight they’re carrying can lead to health problems throughout their lives. One way to prevent childhood obesity is by modeling healthy eating habits, from making healthy meals to showing restraint at the dessert table.

When we constantly offer a child candy or sugary snacks as a reward, we cement the idea in their minds that food (and sweets in particular) create good feelings. This thought process can encourage emotional eating later in life. In the meantime, regular sweets helps a child develop a preference for sugary foods, effectively making it harder to get them to eat healthily.

Other Options

Am I saying you should forget about ever giving your kids candy? Of course not. There are some occasions where candy is a suitable part of childhood: after a night of trick-or-treating, on a birthday or holiday, or even after a visit to the paediatrician. When those special occasions come up, there’s no harm in celebrating with a sweet snack, but what about the other times?

We all want to reward our kids for the great things they do. And a lot of the time, picking up chocolate or ice cream is the easiest thing to do. However, it is important to give your little one different kinds of rewards, too. A trip to the zoo, a new bath toy, or even reading a book with mom and dad can be just as satisfying as a sucker!

Finding That Sweet Spot

Balance and moderation is the key to just about everything in life. The same goes for rewarding your kids. You can even make healthier choices in the candy you give your little ones! Swap out milk chocolate for dark, give them trail mix loaded with protein-rich nuts, and find gummy snacks with real fruit. The kids will enjoy the candy, and you can feel a better about their eating habits.

Don’t forget that rewards don’t always have to be food-based, either. A nice mix of quality time, fun excursions, and yes, the occasional candy bar, will help your child have a healthier relationship to food. Also, it can make his or her life a little sweeter – after all, even the best treats get boring if you eat them every night! Although candies can be lots of fun, they’re best (like everything else) in moderation.

Amy Williams

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