One of the cities near me just announced a new initiative by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police and AAA to reward kids for being safe in their communities.
Each time a law enforcement officer witnesses a child doing things that ensure his/her safety (i.e. wearing a bike helmet, looking both ways before crossing a street, or using proper hand signals when on a bicycle), they will give the child a certificate for a free Dairy Queen ice cream cone.
Let me start off by saying that I am all for positive reinforcement. And I have no problems with the goodwill law enforcement officers are trying to create with the next generation.
But I am a little saddened by the fact that the rewards tend to favor kids with parents who can afford bike helmets (and probably ice cream cones, too).
I’m also wondering whether officers stopping well-behaved kids is such a good idea. Think about this: You’re a good kid trying to be cool… minding your own business, and now you’re going to look like a goody-two-shoes in front of your friends because you looked both ways before crossing the street? Social suicide.
And an attempt to promote safety could actually endanger children. When I was 10-years old, two men tried to lure me into their car with a rather lame story when I was out on a bike. I worry that child predators may decide all they need is a coupon for a free ice cream cone to get access to children.
Shouldn’t good behavior be its own reward? If I wear my bike helmet and wipe out, then YAY, my brain isn’t mush because I was smart and wore a helmet. As an adult, no one rewards me for following the speed limit.
Let good kids be good kids. Teach the kids who need a little extra guidance when it comes to safety. Spend the money you would have spent on ice cream cones to buy bike helmets for low-income families.
What do you think? Should good behavior be rewarded? Or should good behavior be its own reward?
You may also like:
{ 9 comments }
I am with you. I think they should spend the money to buy helmuts for low income families so those children can be safe while riding there bikes.
I agree that spending the money on helmets for low income familys is a much better idea! I also agree that good behavior is it’s own reward. It reminds me a lot of where I stand on graduation parties, I will not go to any partys or give any money for graduations because, yay, you did exactly what was expected of you and now you can go on to college and/or get a job, which you won’t get a party for doing. I love your blog, keep up the great work!
I disagree. Usually kids only get attention when they do something wrong. A little positive attention, especially from police officers who too often are only associated with punishing bad behavior, is a good thing! When I was a kid I loved getting prizes, or at least praise, for things like good grades and perfect attendance.
Actually this program is much bigger than you said. The police hand our free helmets and the rewards are ice cream vouchers and even free bikes. So yes it is a good thing and not better for one class than another.
http://www.startribune.com/local/97203349.html?page=3&c=y
Sorry the link takes you to the last page.
http://www.startribune.com/local/97203349.html?page=1&c=y
I have mixed emotions about rewarding good behavior though when you think about it, that is what our paycheck is. We do a good job, we get paid. We do a poor job, we get fired.
We own a bicycle shop, and the local police have purchased their bikes and service through us. I would like to see the police a little more proactive in encouraging EVERYONE to wear helmets. I’d also like to see them enforce riding on the right side of the street. People would certainly stay safer that way. In years past I’d heard of a program where officers gave ice cream coupons from McDonald’s for good behavior. I think that if given free helmets, they wouldn’t wear them anyway. Those that can afford them don’t wear them. My kids are the only ones in the neighborhood who do.
@ Anissa – Nice to see the Twin Cities area is giving out bike helmets. Our local news story said didn’t mention helmets.. and said they only had about 150 coupons. :-(
@ Kris – You’re right. EVERYONE should wear them. I feel that way about motorcycle helmets, too.. but until they make a law about it, it will never happen.
I don’t see what is wrong with the police praising a child for doing things that are safe. What a nice way for police to get to know their community and for children to meet and start to show respect for authoritative figures other than mom and dad. As far as social suicide, what a sad way to look at it. Are we teaching our children that what others think about us is more important than doing the right thing? As far as not being able to afford helmets, there are resales shops, garage sales, wish lists for Christmas and birthdays and I believe there are programs around that do give helmets to lower income families….just need to research it. I believe the idea is good, perhaps the execution could use some fine tuning
I like the program. In my community, the kids don’t know the police except as enforcers of the law. In the neighboring community, the officers decided to volunteer at festivals and such, including free food and gifts for kids. The difference is noticeable.
I was in a coffee shop in the neighboring town. I watched an officer park his car on the other side of the street. As he was waiting to cross, the kids playing in the park called his name and gathered around him. He spent some time chatting with them and they showed him some critter they’d found. I commented to my friend that you’d never see a relationship like that between kids in my town and the police.
Comments on this entry are closed.