Why can giving children prizes or rewards for their schoolwork help them progress?

Well, I think rewards can motivate children because they make effort feel more tangible. When kids see a direct connection between their hard work and a positive outcome, it reinforces the behavior. For example, my high school math teacher Mr. Wang used to give small prizes like stationery for improved test scores. It wasn't about the value of the item, but the recognition that pushed students like me to keep practicing. That said, the rewards should be meaningful but not excessive - otherwise children might focus only on the prize rather than the learning itself.