Intrinsic rewards

Hi everyone,
ICT capabilities are strengthening all the time because we support each other.
If I can master this form of communication, I have a lot I want to say to my readers.
I may write a book one day. "Life according to Chris Critic" Is that title too 'self- important'?
I firmly believe that the social issues of the world: the country; the Friday night street racing; pub brawls; the prisons; the courts; the police cells; the school playground; the sports field: the work place; the diet clinics (get the point - I mean everywhere that positive strategies would make a difference) can be changed positively when citizens are empowered to aim for intrinsic rewards - those where they achieve a good feeling inside for a job well done, rather than extrinsic rewards like a 'sticker' for the first story you write on your first day at school or a sticker when you tidied the blocks at kindergarten, or a lolly when you do what you are told, or food/ alcohol that continues to fill that space of rewards.
Let children feel empowered by their story or their task because they are pleased with their own work. Children at Lucknow Kindergarten know that their ideas are valued, but more importantly they can feel pleased with themselves. Our teachers do not say "I am proud of you." We say "You can be very pleased with yourself/ your ideas/ your contribution to the story/your participation in sorting out the blocks on the shelf. "
People continue to require rewards as they go through adulthood. Large numbers of people go shopping in malls and they come home with rewards, - new appliances, new clothes, new trinkets they think they should have but do not need- and this is closely followed with problems with their bank account - but at the time they 'deserved' that reward. ( a new vibrating chair/ a new waffle maker/ an electric nose hair remover... ) Bank account problems can lead to desperation, poverty, crime fraud. This over-shopping is also linked to problems with our environment - overloading of the worlds landfills with all the old appliances, old clothes, throw away packaging...
After a lunchtime discussion our team have highlighted another reward system - that of the sports field. Teams have learnt to seek the winning experience. But have you ever felt that good feeling inside for a game well played when you have lost the game? This leads us to another link to extrinsic rewards- teams who drown their sorrows for a loss with alcohol/drugs. Another social problem ensues - potentially unsafe decisions - driving, anger, violence, crime...
What about bullies? - in the school playground, the workplace, within relationships - Are bullies rewarding themselves with a good feeling inside at other peoples expense? These bullies deserved the opportunity of authentic quality earlychildhood education and to feel the genuine love of teachers/adults who truly listened, who truly supported positive resolutions and truly promoted positive learning experiences.
My son has just told me that some students at his school are promised $1000 for every NCEA subject they pass. What! What about passing subjects for yourself? Are these students going to expect payments or rewards every time they achieve something? Could the reward be the pleasure of a job well done?
"Grooming" the process of gaining the trust of a child over an online environment is a serious safety concern. Children who are developing their own positive self-image through practising finding the value in intrinsic rewards, rather than those given by others, need not listen to a potential offender with only harmful deceit in mind.
I do not see how an "affirmation card for today" will support this 'real' learning. How can we tell children that the word for today is kindness or sharing or listening? Our team believes that these moments arise everyday for children and we are lucky to have the opportunity in ECE to think with children about what we and they will do and say; and we and they can feel very pleased with our interactions towards positive relationships. Ours is not a quick fix solution - but it is long lasting. It is for life.
Let's support the intrinsic reward achieved within - empower children to build their own positive self esteem.
The image of the child is and remains strong rich and capable.
CC