An important part of any behavior management system is providing a classroom incentive that truly motivates the kids. PJ day has been a time-tested incentive that has proven to be effective, but what new ideas are there to motivate kids? These unique classroom incentives will encourage even the most challenging kids to stay on task.
Classroom Incentive Ideas
When you are trying to keep kids on track and behaviors positive a classroom incentive can make a big impact on getting the desired behaviors. A classroom incentive helps some kids stay on task promotes community among your group of children. Check out these classroom incentives below. Looking for individual incentives? Scroll a bit
Student Vs Teachers
Assuming you have enough teachers and students interested you can host a students vs teachers game. Games such as dodgeball or kickball are great motivators in themselves but you add in the opportunity to throw a ball at a teacher and that motivation doubles!
Choose the Teachers Outfit Day
If you don’t mind making a fool of yourself in exchange for positive behaviors, this incentive idea is for you. Take pictures of some unique clothing options you have in your closet and hang them on a bulletin board or a common place where kids can see the photos. When kids reach their goal allow them to vote on what outfit you will wear for the day.
Maybe you have a funny ducky tie, some swim floaties, or how about a tutu? The more ridiculous the outfit options the more motivated the kids will be to see you acting a fool, in a fun way of course.
Blanket Fort Kingdom Classroom Incentive
Have each kid bring in a blanket from home. Push your desks and tables together, stack chairs and totes then drape the blankets over everything. Kids love making blanket forts, and blanket forts in the classroom is a huge motivator for some children. This incentive for kids is fun, easy and free. Add a level of critical thinking by challenging kids to make the fort large enough for everyone to be inside at once. Or, make it tall enough so everyone can stand up.
Doughnut Doers! Classroom Incentive
In my after school program when someone does something above and beyond we call it “being a doer”. For example, if a kid pick up a piece of trash from the ground with no one asking is being a doer. One incentive for being a doer is our doughnut doers activity. I know food is not the best option for incentives, I have read the research, however, this is just a fun activity that kids love. Simply buy some plain donuts make some doughnut glaze and add some sprinkles!
Superstar Friday Classroom Incentive for Kids
This fun incentive idea asks kids to dress like a superstar. They could be movie stars, rock stars, youtube stars, whatever their heart’s desire. Create a runway or red carpet for kids as they enter the classroom. Create a photo booth or fun backdrop to take pictures of the kids as they enter or at the end of the day. You can make it a party by offering snacks or a fun swag bag.
Escape Room
Create your own escape room in the classroom. This fun incentive idea will be a hit with kids. I have made it easy for you to create an escape room, check out our article on how to create an escape room for kids. An added benefit; escape rooms take critical thinking and teamwork skills that will help bond the kids.
Guest Speaker Classroom Incentive
I am not talking about someone’s mom coming to talk about her career as a doctor. I mean a cool guest speaker, like a magician or a mad scientist. Most communities have performers who can offer a fun show for the kids. We even had a dog trainer come with a few small dogs that put on a hilarious show. Wherever you are, there is a performing who will delight kids.
School Shoutout
This incentive takes some timing. Apply for the school shoutout, if they pick you they will tell you when they are coming. It’s this window of time where you can tell kids about the school shoutout incentive but remind them it is a privilege that must be earned.
In my city, Madison WI, one of our local news channels does a school shoutout in the morning. They go to local schools and classrooms and record the kids as they yell, “Good morning Madison”. The video airs the next morning. It seems that a lot of local new channels offer some sort of school shoutout.
Youtube Yammers Classroom Incentive
Have kids make a list of their favorite youtube channels. At the end of the day after children have been demonstrated positive behaviors offer to show a quick clip from one of the channels. This simple reward is free and the kids absolutely love it. (and miss it if the do not earn it)
DJs for a Day
Have kids create a list of songs they want to hear. When they earn a reward, play music during work time or unstructured time. Kids will enjoy hearing the songs they requested, and it may even help some kids focus.
Walking Field Trip Classroom Incentive for Students
Offer a walking field trip. Check out the establishments around your school or program location. Look for places that you can take your class. Places like the fire department, the library or bowling ally are fast field trips with little overhead cost. Kids will be motivated by the opportunity to do something new!
Individual Incentives
Sometimes individual incentives work better than class incentives. Class incentives ask that children hold each other accountable for behaviors while others individual incentives simply ask kids to worry about their own actions.
Goody Goody Gum Drops
This incentive system provides a “gumball machine” for each child. This incentive idea is perfect for young elementary kids. When kids demonstrate desired behaviors they receive a gum ball. You can offer this at the end of the day or throughout the day when you see kids do something great. You will notice the picture was taken during the holiday season so the “gumballs” were holiday themed, you can switch the gumballs with the seasons or keep them the same year round.
To get the gumballs to stick to the machine, we use velcro. Each machine has 10 velcro strips, and each gumball has the attaching velcro strip. When they fill up their gumball machine they get a small prize from the prize box. Then the gumballs come down and they start over.
Write A Note to Mom & Dad
A Simple note to a kid and their parent or guardian is a quick way to show kids that you appreciate their efforts. Write the note then give it to the child so they can see what you wrote. They will be very excited to show a parent and parents will appreciate the effort.
Fish Tank Drop Incentive idea for kids
This super fun incentive is fun and challenging for kids. For this incentive you will need a fish tank, a shot glass and pennies or marbles. Fill the fish tank with water and place the shot glass in the center of the tank. When they do something great, above and beyond expectations they receive a penny or marble. They drop the item into the water and try to land it in the shot glass. If they make it in, they earn a small prize. (However, making it into the glass is a reward in itself)
Punch Cards
This is a time-tested incentive system. Use our printable punch cards. Print them on card stock to provide durability. When kids have a good day or demonstrate good behavior, they get a punch. Use a unique punch like a star so kids can not duplicate the punches.
Punch it Prizes Incentive for Students
For this motivational prize by inspiredelementary.com staple solid plastic cups to a bulletin board or trifold board. Place small prizes in the cups. Cut 4×4 pieces of tissue paper. Place the tissue paper around the outside of the cup and hold it in place with a rubber band. When kids earn a prize, they can choose which cup the want to “punch”. They stick their hand through the tissue paper and pull out the prize. You can get prizes at the dollar store or check out amazon. Click here for some reasonably priced prizes. You can them replace the prize and reapply the tissue paper.
High Fives incentive for students
When kids demonstrate desired behaviors give them a “high five” or a hand-shaped piece of paper with a quick message written on it. Sometimes it only takes a small gesture for kids to feel appreciated and to continue that behavior. I use the circuit to cut out the hands, it makes it super easy. (If you don’t have a cricut, you need one, they are amazing! Check them out on Amazon)
Printable Awards
This simple incentive takes no money and just a little bit of time. You can create awards for kids as they demonstrate desired behaviors. Click here to see our printable awards you can customize for your students. Kids appreciate being acknowledged for doing the right thing, these awards make it easy to show your appreciation.
Prize Machine
This simple incentive uses a classic prize machine or claw game. You can purchase a machine on amazon for a reasonable price.Set up the machine in your classroom or in a common area of your program. When kids meet or exceed your expectations, give them a token or quarter to get a prize from your special machine.
Brag Tags Incentive for Kids
Give each kid a key ring or metal necklace. They can clip the key rings onto their backpacks, or keep them anywhere they will be safe. As kids earn tags they can add them to their rings or necklace. Click here see more about brag tags from luckylittlelearners.com. Kids will love to collect these tags and show them off to other teachers, mom, dad, grandma and anyone who is willing to listen.
Coupons or Tokens
Many local establishments will be willing to offer you coupons for teachers and child care centers. Locally we have a Culver’s that donated over 100 free kids ice cream token. Pizza hut also donated a few free personal pan pizza coupons. All I had to do was ask. Contact your local establishments and ask if they would be willing to donate, you will never know if you do not ask.
Super Star of the Week
Feature kids on a star of the week board. Post a photo of the child, a positive thing they did, or positive attributes that kid demonstrates. This public acknowledgment of good behavior is more than enough to motivate some children.
Pride Buttons
This idea form entirelyelementary.com Is a fun way to promote individual accomplishments. Purchase buttons. Then add your own flare such as “ask me how I made my teacher smile” or “Ask me why I had a great day!” These fun buttons work great for younger elementary kids.
Fun Behavior Management System Ideas
Incentives are great but what about behavior management systems? Check out these fun ways of tracking positive behaviors below.
Eye Spy Jar
Create an “eye spy” jar. Get a large mason jar and some giant googly eyes. When you spot kids doing kind acts add an eye to the jar. What the jar is full have a class celebration. See more on this fun “eye spy” behavior management idea at sparklingsecondgrade.com
Kerplunk! Classroom Incentive Idea
This super simple and fun classroom management system is a game that kids will love. To start set up the game kerplunk. Usually when you play kerplunk the objective is to keep the marbles in the container, but this classroom management system flips things around. When kids display good behavior throughout the day, a student will get to remove a stick. When the sticks are removed marbles may fall to the bottom. After the final marble goes Kerplunk! And falls to the bottom the kids earn an incentive or reward..
Puzzle It Up
Find a puzzle with 25-50 pieces. Put a piece of magnetic tape on the back of each piece. As kids behave as expected give the class one piece of the puzzle, you can do this daily or whenever they are acting exceptionally good. When they have completed the puzzle reward them with a fun prize or activity.
Ping Pong Ball Bounce Classroom Incentive
When kids’ behavior match your expectations use this ping pong bounce incentive game to keep them on task. Set up a fishbowl on a table push it back so there is a few feet on the table before the fish bowl. Place a marker on the ground to define where kids should stand. When kids are are given a ping pong ball they must stand behind the line and bounce the ball off the table into the fishbowl. When the fish bowl is filled or you reach a certain number of balls in the bowl the kids earn a class incentive.
Point System
This easy and free classroom management system from downeastteach.com is very basic. Every time kids are on task and doing what is expected of them they get a point. Every time they need to be redirected the teacher gets a point. At the end of the day you subtract the teacher points from the student points. If the total is 5 or higher they get 5 minutes of free choice play on Friday, equaling up to 20 minutes of free choice!
