Bao & Bun's Bilingual Journey

Navigating through parenting tips online can feel like wading through a sea of conflicting advice. Some suggest refraining from offering rewards to our children, advocating for intrinsic motivation instead. Others find that rewards serve as effective incentives for encouraging learning. As a mother to both a son and a daughter, I’ve come to understand the motivation factor in vastly different ways with each of my children.

My daughter, Little Bun, has always displayed a natural aptitude for academics. With her, a gentle reminder is often all that’s needed to prompt her to practice Chinese writing or dive into a Mandarin book. On the other hand, my son, Little Bao, initially showed similar enthusiasm, but lately, he’s been struggling with reading—both in Chinese and English. He frequently voices his discontent, finding even the shortest Greenfield book to be an unbearable task. Comparisons to his sister’s workload only compound his frustration.

While I’ve tried implementing rewards as an incentive for completing a set number of books, I’ve noticed a stark contrast in their effectiveness between my two children. For Little Bao, the promise of a reward acts as a powerful motivator, spurring him to tackle his reading assignments with newfound enthusiasm. However, for Little Bun, the impact of rewards seems minimal, suggesting that her drive to learn is largely intrinsic.

This discrepancy serves as a poignant reminder that parenting is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. What works wonders for one child may fall flat with another. Instead of adhering rigidly to universal parenting advice, I’ve learned to approach it with an open mind. If a particular strategy proves ineffective, I pivot and explore alternative methods better suited to my children’s unique needs. After all, the ultimate goal is to nurture their growth and development in a way that resonates with them individually.