Natural and Logical Consequences

Recently I had an "Aha!" moment with regard to rewards. For some time I have been trying to sort out my feelings about rewards. What is their place? How do we keep them from being bribery? How do kids learn the intrinsic value of doing a thing?

I think the answers to some of these questions are bound up in the concepts of natural and logical consequences. A natural consequence is one that happens as the result of a child's thoughts, words or actions. For example, the natural consequence of a child running on a hardwood floor is slipping and falling. It is not the kind of thing that parent enforces. It is just what happens (and is the reason that we have rules about these sorts of things - to prevent accidents). A logical consequence is one enforced by a parent that has a sort of logical connection to the action. For example, if a child doesn't finish his homework, he can't watch television. In a logical consequence the parent presses the natural consequence. The consequences is deeply connected to the action. It has to do with using time responsibly, and thereby gaining leisure time. This is the consequence of which it is often said, "The punishment fits the crime."

How do natural and logical consequences bear on rewards? Logical consequences are both positive and negative. Elisabeth is well acquainted with one logical consequence: If she finishes her dinner, then she gets to eat dessert; if she doesn't finish her dinner then, she doesn't get dessert. She is learning that finishing one's task gains freedoms. The "reward" is a logical consequence. Likewise the logical consequence of putting one's shoes away immediately upon coming home is freedom to do other things rather than being summoned to put the shoes away. The logical consequence of keeping one's room clean is having freedom to do other things with one's time.

What I'm driving at is that if the reward attached to an action has a logical connection to the action, it reinforces the intrinsic value of the action and provides motivation. Using extrinsic rewards (such as getting a candy for cleaning one's room) sends the message that the natural consequences of cleaning a room are not sufficient reason. A more logical consequence for cleaning one's room would be freedom to use the computer; one has discharged responsibilities, and now has gained leisure.

Why do I think that this is important? From my experience as a teacher, I believe that children (unconsciously) treat extrinsic rewards that are not logically connected to an action as bribery or payment for services rendered. The value of the action is actually demeaned through these kinds of rewards. A wonderful example of logical rewards in my elementary classroom was something called "center time" which consists of self-selected learning centers that included art projects, books on tape, computers etc. The reward for completing one's work well and quickly was the freedom to pursue their own interests in learning. The kids were motivated and the value of the work was affirmed.

Now I'm looking more closely at how I can develop more logical rewards at home for Elisabeth.