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The use of sweets as rewards in schools
Author(s) -
Burnett Christine
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-277x.1994.tb00286.x
Subject(s) - medicine , consumption (sociology) , mainstream , promotion (chess) , special needs , health promotion , environmental health , nursing , public health , psychiatry , social science , philosophy , theology , sociology , politics , political science , law
Personal interviews with headteachers and survey questionnaires from school staff were used to determine the extent of the use of sweets as rewards in six mainstream infant and junior and two special schools (for children with physical and behavioural difficulties) in Calderdale. The 96 questionnaires returned indicated that 41% of teachers used sweets as rewards occasionally and 3% used them often, with use markedly higher in special schools. Nine per cent of special school staff ranked sweets the most effective reward. Sweets were more likely to be given to children aged 5–7 years. Other uses of sweets included use to calm upset children by 7% of staff, and on special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas (83%). Policies on the consumption of sweets from home varied from an outright ban to no policy. The use of sweets as rewards is established as common practice in these Calderdale schools. This needs to be questioned in view of the risks to psychological health from the promotion of the association of sweets with achievement and comfort, and the risks to dental health from encouraging the eating of sweets.