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| | I have been to churches where they had a large spread of amazing prizes for VBS. And they made sure every child got something. However, some kids push towards getting that bike or something so hard, that the other kids don't have a chance and the focus is now on that bike and not the message. I think that is a little extreme and kids get disappointed. We did a reward chest for VBS last year. I had tickets and I just would act a fool and pass them out to whomever but I made sure every child had a prize by the third day. Then on the 5th and last, everyone got something plus a little gift bag saying we appreciate you. We did offer a small token for the most offering just bc the kids loved the idea. It was just a candy bar, nothing extravagent. This year we are doing things differently. For perfect attendence, we put names in a hat and pull one out. That person gets to take home the 3D display of Fizz. We have no use for it and it is just going to sit in storage. Why not let a kid take it home? For offering...the team that brings the most, their leader will get slimed on the last day. At the end of every day, every child gets a small something, whether its a pencil or a piece of candy. I believe in offering prizes, not bribes. The kids love it, all kids get something and it makes the event even more memorable. However, we do NOT make it the focus of the VBS.
 ~Misty from Indiana
Non-conformist!! Romans 12:2  Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth!
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| Well, if you read my previous posts you all know my stand on prizes/rewards by now . Like I said, I do give them out every night at VBS and I aslo have a competition game throughout the week. Although not every child gets a prize I believe the solution to that is our ever popular VBS Store. It all started with Jerusalem Marketplace where kids would receive shekels (Wooden coins) for coming to VBS, for good behavior, for participation, etc. Every child did get a few coins every night. They would then "spend" their money at the Old Scroll Museum and Gift Shop. Items available for them to buy ranged from simple knickknacks from Oriental Trading to items I found at the dollar store. Every child ended up taking something home. Some bought something for everyone in their family. Others even asked if we took credit cards! It was so popular that we did one for Fiesta (El Mercado) where kids received pesos (fake dollars), and again for Avalanche Ranch (General Store) where kids received golden nuggets (from OTC). This year I am planning for a Lab Store, but I am still brainstorming for a Store name and what to use as money. Any ideas?
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| BLove (1/10/2008)
I believe in incentives, not bribes, but at the same time we should NOT have to motivate people to do what the word of God tells them to do, but the reality is we DO. I believe there needs to made a very important distinction here. I understand what you are saying in regards to the difference between "incentives" (promotion of a positive action) and "bribes" (promotion of a negative action". First off, let me say this is in regards to the "contest for who brings the most friends" idea. This may very well have different interpretations in different cirtances, ie. "contests". The problem is in looking at the "action" that you are trying to promote. A bag of candy could be claimed to be an "incentive", when your intention is to get more kids to participate in a church run event, VBS or otherwise. However, the distinction needs to be made that this is YOUR (ie. the church's) intention. But because the bag of candy is being given to the child(ren), and that they are the ones carrying out the (positive/negative) "action" of bringing friends to church, the intention that needs to be looked at in this scenario is the child's. If the child's intention is to brings lots of friends to church for the distinct purpose of getting a big bag of candy, then is that still considered "incentive"? My personal opinion is that it's far, far more important to spend that effort in teaching the kids the right reasons (and right ways) that they should incourage their friends to attend church functions. Tangible "rewards" can tend to serve the wrong purpose, so perhaps really considering what you use as a "reward" may solve the issue as well.
----------------------------------and don't call me Chadder  |
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