Parents Talk: Bribing Your Kids

Welcome to Parent's Talk, our weekly feature that addresses questions local parents ask and turns to you -- the experts -- for your parenting answers. Post your answers and thoughts in the comments. Have a question? Email kellyd@patch.com.

If you behave at the doctor's office, we'll go get ice cream. Straight A's deserves dinner out. Here's $5 if you stop hitting your sister.

One of these is not like the other.

Using a system of rewards to shape children's behavior is a widely accepted practice by most parents. It can take the shape of a simply high five and "Good job" when your kid makes his bed, puts his dishes in the dishwasher or helps with the laundry.

Simple systems using star stickers, for example, for each successful task they accomplish are also common. Add up the stars at the end of the week and let it equal a reward for your kid. This can later become a chore/allowance system.

But what kind of rewards are too much? When should such a system take effect? Go out of use? What crosses the line into unacceptable bribery for you?