Food Incentives Can Perpetuate the Problem of Obesity - By: Wanda McDowell

Food incentives can perpetuate the problem of obesity because teachers use it as a means to bride their students to do the right thing. Most of the time, teachers give their students candy instead of a healthy alternative like an apple. However, even healthy alternatives are not a very good idea because some of your students might have food allergies. Giving children candy will cause them to only behave when they are given sweets. Therefore, when they feel good about something they have done they will only want candy, cake, icecream, etc.. Consequently, when you give a child sweets as an award they will not develop healthy eating habits. Furthermore, this will just prolong the problem of childhood obesity. There are a number of ways you can maintain your classroom without having to revert back to food incentives.

I also have a forum with other Incentive ideas: Incentive Ideas

Here is a list of incentives:

The Can Teach website offers a list 49 Classroom Management incentive ideas:
1. Sit at the teacher's desk.
2. Take care of the class animals for the day.
3. Have lunch with your favorite person.
4. Have lunch with the principal.
5. Join another class for indoor recess.
6. Have the teacher phone parents to tell them what a great kid you are.
7. Draw on the chalkboard.
8. Be first in line.
9. Do only half an assignment.
10. Choose any class job for the week.
11. Choose the music for lunch. Bring in a tape.
12. Take a tape recorder home for the night.
13. Use colored chalk.
14. Do all the class jobs for the day.
15. Invite a visitor from outside the school.
16. Get a drink whenever you want.
17. Use the pencil sharpener any time.
18. No early morning work.
19. Take a class pet home overnight.
20. Be a helper in the room with younger children.
21. Help the custodian.
22. Help the secretary.
23. Help the librarian.
24. Stay in at recess to play a game with a friend.
25. Use stamps and ink.
26. Invite a friend from another class into the room for lunch.
27. Use the teacher's chair.
28. Work in the lunchroom.
29. Take a class game home for the night.
30. Choose a book for the teacher to read to the class.
31. Move your desk to a chosen location.
32. Keep an animal on your desk--stuffed or not stuffed.
33. No homework pass.
34. Lunch with the teacher.
35. Operate the projector.
36. Use the couch or beanbag chair for the day.
37. Go to another class for lunch.
38. Use the computer.
39. Be the first to eat.
40. Use the tape recorder and tape a story.

The Can Teach Website:
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/classman2.html

About the Author

Wanda McDowell is the founder of Math Concentration: A Math Community. Find out how to get answers to homework questions and win giveaways. at http://www.mathconcentration.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Wanda-McDowell/118648

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