What about teaching intrinsic motivation?????

I will begin by commenting on the good points this article made.  Regarding biological issues, the mantra for all parents is indeed, "Be Prepared".  Being in touch with a child's stimulation threshold is right on target as well.  Teaching kids the "proper" way to ask for something, whether it be more television time, a parent's attention, or more time to play in the bubbles at bathtime, is key to helping children develop high emotional intelligence.  Believe it or not, the world does NOT revolve around a childs wants and desires.  There is a humane way to teach that.  However, using treats as bribery for correct behavior is not the best way to teach emotional maturity.  Preempting game night with a discussion that tells the child if they don't get upset, they will get a treat sets the child up to expect something for behaving correctly, behaving in a way they should behave anyway.  When my children got upset at game time, they were made to leave the game and not return until they could behave in an appropriate way.  Leaving the playground without incident is not rewarded with ice cream, it is rewarded by another trip to the playground, maybe an extra trip to the playground when the child doesn't expect to be able to go.  The use of extrinsic (outward) motivation, such as treats, as a reward for appropriate behavior sets children up to feel entitled to be rewarded for behavior they should be practicing anyway.  Children should be acknowledged and praised for correct behavior (some children require more praise than others), however offering treats sends the message that everyone in the child's life will be willing to reward them for acting correctly. If the child enters school, and later the workforce, expecting a reward for not being bad, or for not behaving unprofessionally, when these are things expected of students and employees, conjuring the INTRICSIC (inward) motivation to excel will be difficult.  When treats are given to children as rewards for correct, emotionally mature behavior, they do not develop a sense of intrinsic motivation, "If I'm not going to get a treat for this, why do it?".   Acting correctly and age appropriately can and should be taught without the use of treats.