“Rewards for excellent performance at school are a way to encourage and motivate students to succeed, reinforce great behaviour and strive for excellence” says Cheryl Bamber of Pamapuria School.  “It’s so important to have students perform to the best of their capabilities,  using our school values of Rangatiratanga, Kotahitanga, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga and Pumanawatanga,  gives the children a tool to critically examine how they reflect and portray each one of these.” 

The most effective prizes so far, have been ones that stimulate and grow resilience within the school.  Things like clay, a fairy wand, hair ties, note books and so forth have made the ‘blue box prize time’ and this excites students to try their best.  The use of this blue box is a way of finding alternatives to giving sugary food as a reward and coincidentally, the no food prize has been a success for more than a year.

To extend on this, the school also promotes healthy eating by dedicating time to sit and eat and this encourages children to eat in a supportive way chatting and catching up with friends outside the learning environment, and now Pamapuria believes that Schools have a responsibility to both teach and model healthy behaviours. Cheryl believes that giving out food as prizes, especially chocolates and lollies compromises health and that foods commonly used as rewards are “empty calorie” foods – high in fat and sugar and have very little nutritional value. These foods displace healthier food choices and contribute to the development of obesity, diabetes, dental issues and it can also undermine classroom learning.  Having a classroom full of sleeping children isn’t ideal.

Check out the following ideas that your school may be interested in adopting:

• Sit with friends

• Listen to music while working

• Be a helper in another classroom

• Watch a fun movie

• Walk with the principal or teacher

• Take a fun physical activity break

• Dance to favourite music in the classroom Stickers

• Pencils, pens, and markers

• Erasers

• Bookmarks

• Books

• Rulers

• Trinkets (magnets, frisbees, etc.)

• Paper

• Activity/game sheets

• Game time

• Reading time

• Class, homework time, or reading time in a special place (on the couch, outside, etc.)

• Extra break time

• Extra library time

• Extra art time

There are many non-food prize ideas that can be used to replace sweet treats, all it takes is a little creativity and glam to make prize time healthier and interactive!