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the Happy Hearts Parenting Blog!

In these posts we explore some of the research linking social and moral development in childhood

to emotional and mental wellbeing -

and importantly, what it all means for how we raise our kids!

We hope you find our posts interesting and helpful. ❤️

Why bribing kids can backfire!

Why bribing kids can backfire!By: Jess Kingsford (Ph.D)

In this blog, Jess unpacks why bribing kids with treats, screen time or other rewards might get quick results… but not the kind that last. Drawing on research from Self-Determination Theory, she explains the difference between low and high-quality motivators, and why helping children experience a sense of autonomy, competence and relatedness while they engage in behaviours that benefit other people, is essential if we want them to truly value kindness, helpfulness, contribution and caring for others.

BribingMotivation
Why bribing kids can backfire!

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