By: MJ + PJ
Occasionally your child does something to make you very proud. This is the brief story of someone else’s gesture providing a timely and reinforcing reward.
At the Mall of America, on his last of only a few rides in the Nickelodeon Universe, our kid held the exit gate open for about half the people exiting the ride. A simple gesture, but one which we have encouraged and usually prompt. This time he did it solo and was unaware of how close we were. Close enough to get this photo:
Fast forward a few days to Catawba Brewing where we had stopped to meet some family the day before our big day at Cedar Point rollercoaster park. His uncle arrives, and as our kid races to the door to go outside to greet him, he gets to the door ahead of two gentlemen leaving the brewery.
A minute later our kid races back (sans uncle…!) to tell us he was given some money. “I held the door open for those two guys and they gave me this!” he says, spilling a handful of coins onto the table.
They had tipped him 83c for the gesture of opening the door for them, even though he was rushing to see his uncle.
Unbeknownst to them, they had provided a concrete reward to reinforce and contrast the verbal thanks and praise given to him after the Mall of America ride. These simple types of gestures by strangers for children make parents grateful and happy.
