Priming kids to expect rewards for good behavior can harm their social skills in the long term.

Read the full article at: www.theatlantic.com

Sticker charts remain one of the most popular tools for motivating children. There is clear evidence that sticker charts work to promote specific behaviors, but they can also create unintended and dangerous consequences.

Once children are conditioned to receive something, in this case stickers for their “good” behavior, a long-term expectation is set.  When we ask a child to do something, a typical response is “what will you give me?”  Is this what you really want to hear?