# 30 Prizes That Actually Motivate Kids - Tested Ideas | GritSprout

> 30 prize ideas tested by real families: experiential, what works by age group, and how to set them up in GritSprout.

Source: https://gritsprout.com/guide/rewards-that-work

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Best for

- Parents who don't know what prizes to set
- Grandparents who want to add relevant prizes
- Families who want to shift from material to experiential rewards

## Guide steps

- ### Experiential prizes (most effective)

1. Ice cream after 7 days of complete routine
2. We choose Friday movie night together
3. 30 extra minutes of play before bedtime
4. We go to the park Saturday morning
5. We cook weekend dessert together
6. An extra hour of tablet time on Saturday
7. Choose the dinner menu
8. Bike ride in the park
9. Tent night in the living room
10. Restaurant outing with the family
- ### Social prizes (from extended family)

11. $5 from grandma after 7 days of reading
12. Fishing trip with grandpa after 14 days of sports
13. Call grandma 4 days a month = $3
14. Visit godparents after a month of complete routine
15. Amusement park outing with aunt
16. Toy chosen by godparent after 30 days
17. Weekly pocket money from grandparents
18. Video call with cousins after 5-day streak
19. Book gift from uncle
20. Bowling outing with extended family
- ### Prizes by age group

4-6 years: stickers, choosing the bedtime story, game with parents, "I choose what we eat"
7-9 years: screen time, pocket money, ice cream outing, board game with family
10-12 years: autonomy (going out alone with friends), money, choosing the movie, unscheduled time

## Benefits

### Prizes that don't cost much

The most effective prizes are experiential: time together, choices, activities. They cost little or nothing but have big impact.

### Personalized by child's age

What motivates a 5-year-old is different from what motivates an 11-year-old. The list is organized by age group.

### Connects the family

Prizes from grandparents, godparents, and relatives turn routine into a family activity. The child feels more people are watching their effort.

### How GritSprout helps

In GritSprout, each prize has a clear trigger (X-day streak, all activities, leaderboard) and a visible giver (mom, dad, grandma). The child sees exactly what to do and who the prize comes from. Setup takes seconds.

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## Frequently asked questions

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Not for routine tasks. Research shows rewards build habits where intrinsic motivation doesn't exist yet. Read our article on what science says.

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Start with 1-2 prizes per trigger type. A streak prize and an "all activities" prize are enough to begin.

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Experiential work better long-term. Material prizes are good as a starting point, but gradually shift to experiences.

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Set the prizes yourself, don't let the child choose. Kids adapt to what's available. Frequency matters more than value.