Ideas for Small Rewards
Keeping students motivated is challenging. Your organization may find it useful to use modest rewards for achievements. This is a comprehensive list of ideas for small rewards to incentivize and reward. Some of these items are well suited to younger students and classroom prize bowls while others are a better fit for older students, clubs, and sports teams.
Considerations
Some aspects to consider when selecting rewards are:
- School & organizational rules
- Potential hazards (ex: food allergies, choking)
- Suitability (ex: age appropriate, potential for mess or disruption, messaging)
- Cost & Logistics (ex: package sizes, storage, shelf-life, transport)
Prepackaged individually-portioned candy, snacks, and drinks are good options to consider. They are generally well liked and inexpensive, however due to allergies and medical restrictions, it is best to have an non-edible alternative in case someone has an unknown dietary restriction or strong preference.
Students enjoy fun and novel rewards. It is nice to use rewards that relate to the school’s colors, mascot, classroom curriculum, or team focus.
Buying in bulk and using donated items helps to reduce cost. DIY is an option for some items, such as a craft kit or a button pin, however it is often better to avoid handling food. Discount and secondhand stores may have deals on some items, such as notebooks, craft items, or even books. Unfortunately most attempts to decrease cost are offset by logistics. A school wish list1 may help to get some donated rewards.
Candy
Prepackaged individually-portioned candy are a popular reward. Here are some ideas on a variety of candy options that are fairly shelf-stable and commonly found in grocery and superstores.
- Chewy candy (ex gummy bears, red licorice, saltwater taffy)
- Chocolate (ex Hershey’s Hugs, fun size bars)
- Gum
- Hard candy (caramel, cinnamon, fruit, mint)
- Lollipop (ex Dum-Dums, Tootsie Pops)
- Mini candies (ex M&Ms, Nerds, Skittles)
- Novelty candy (fun packaging, shapes, textures, themes, etc)
- Seasonal candy (ex candy cane, conversation hearts, Peeps)
- Soft candy (caramel, chocolate, sours)
Snacks & Desserts
Portioned packaged snacks and desserts are another popular reward. These tend to be more filling than candy and are commonly found in grocery and superstores.
- Animal crackers
- Applesauce pouch
- Breakfast, cereal, or granola bar
- Brownie
- Cheese crackers or puffs
- Chips
- Cookie or mini cookies
- Crackers or cracker sandwiches
- Fruit leather or snacks
- Jerky
- Mini cakes or donuts
- Mixed nuts, peanuts, or sunflower seeds
- Muffin or mini muffins
- Popcorn, kettle corn, or caramel corn
- Pretzels or filled pretzels
- Raisins or dried fruit
- Trail mix
Perishable Snacks
Perishable snacks are logistically more challenging, however they are generally more nutritious. Here are some good options, many of these require refrigeration.
- Apple
- Banana
- Cheese (mini or string)
- Hard boiled eggs
- Ice-cream (cup, novelty, or sandwich)
- Orange
- Popsicle
- Yogurt (cup or pouch)
Drinks
Drinks are often good rewards, especially on a hot day, however these generally require refrigeration.
- Flavored water
- Fruit punch
- Juice
- Milk
- Soda
- Sports drink
- Water
Drink Mixes
Drink mixes and similar items can make good rewards under certain circumstances, such as for outdoor activities, however they are a bit more complicated since they require supplies to prepare them.
- Flavored tea mix
- Fruit punch mix
- Herbal tea bag
- Hot chocolate mix
- Iced tea mix
- Instant cider mix
- Instant coffee mix
- Lemonade mix
- Rehydration mix
- Sports drink mix
- Tea bag
School Supplies
School supplies are good items for small prizes.
- Eraser
- Highlighter
- Markers
- Mini Notebook
- Pen
- Pencil
Crafts & Toys
Craft items and toys are fun items to receive as a small prize, especially for younger students.
- Action figure
- Bracelet (ex silicone band or beads)
- Bubbles
- Coloring book
- Costume accessory (ex tiara)
- Craft kit (purchase or DIY)
- Fidget toy
- Hair accessory
- Play dough
- Playing cards
- Slime
- Small stuffed animal
- Stamp (pre-inked)
- Stickers
- Temporary tattoo
- Toy car
Other
Here are some other ideas for small prizes. Some of these are better suited for older students.
- Book
- Bookmark
- Button pin (purchase or DIY)
- Cash, coupon, or small gift card
- Charging cable
- Cheap sunglasses
- Hand sanitizer
- Key chain
- Lanyard
- Lip balm
- Voucher for a small item or privilege (ex free drink or uniform free day)
References
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A few examples of School Wish List registry options: Amazon Charity Wish List, Target Charity Registry, & Walmart Spark Good Registry ↩︎
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