Using reward charts or other positive reinforcement tools, can be extremely effective. They allow for a child to be involved in the entire process of establishing a reward plan, and can include deciding what behavior goals to target, what will be the rewards on offer and how the reward chart will be designed and displayed. This is a powerful way to approach using a reward chart or other similar strategies (for example behavior contracts and using a token economy), because it gives your child a sense of ownership over the process….and this acts as a great motivator.

It must also be said that a reward chart also gives a child a perfect opportunity to really “see” their behavior from a different angle and how those behaviors relate to the goal of the reward chart. Simply, it gives them a chance to focus on their behavior.

Similarly reward charts give parents the opportunity to actively look for good, better or more appropriate behaviors and to acknowledge them appropriately. This is particularly important when we consider that these behaviors are usually more subtle and less obtrusive as compared with the brashness of bad behavior.

Reward Charts as a Cure-for-All??

So, reward charts are powerful?….Yes!

Reward charts are a creative approach to behavior change?….Yes!

Reward charts allow for children to self examine, actively appraise, and to moderate their behavior?..Yes!

Reward charts can inspire kids to “do better”, and for parents to “look for better”….Well, yes!

Reward charts can be the perfect conduit for any behavior change?…Well…No.

Let me explain…

Some types of behavior, or habits, or even when you are attempting to introduce more appropriate behaviors, are perfectly suited for using a reward chart. For example brushing teeth, feeding the dog every afternoon, packing away toys, being ready for school at a certain time each morning, are all illustrative of behavior that can easily be measured, accomplished and duly rewarded. Most of us would perhaps consider such goals as very achievable, especially with the added incentive of a reward chart.

However sometimes a certain behavior can be so ingrained and so deep-seated that whatever incentive a reward chart can offer is very quickly extinguished when a child keeps hitting those invisible “barriers”.  And sometimes children are sophisticated enough to have that deep-down recognition that they can’t change a behavior that has been with them for so long. Or even that they are being asked to do something that to them may seem so far away, so unattainable. And to make things even more difficult, these are usually things that a child will want to change.

Using a reward chart in these situations may require a bit more of a long-term approach. The reward chart can be used to progress a part way along the behavior change path. Using this approach a child has the opportunity to experience the positives of achieving a goal without the demoralizing set-back of failing to achieve an unrealistic behavior change goal.

For example a child who is habitually aggressive toward their siblings, might respond well to the goal of limiting their aggressive outbursts, rather than attempting to eradicate the behavior completely in one reward chart attempt. Using a series of reward charts over a period of weeks or months, with each designed to take a further step toward eliminating the aggressive behavior, might achieve a much greater and more permanent result.

Hopefully I have established that reward charts are a fantastically effective behavior modification tool, and they can be so much fun for both children and parents alike. They can be highly adaptive, and can be used in a multitude of different situations and environments, targeting a wide variety of behaviors and behavior change goals.

However in some situations, with some children, their effectiveness can be diminished according to the strength of the “barriers” to any positive behavior change. Sometimes these children can be coaxed along the path to changing particularly ingrained or contrary behavior, one small step, one small accomplishment at a time…which can be simply fantastic!

Remember, reward charts should NEVER be considered the panacea for all bad behavior, nor for all contrary behavior, or even for changing all unhealthy habits. They are a TOOL that parents can use, amongst an arsenal of tools that a parent should have at their disposal. And here I don’t just mean products, items, and behavior change tools, but also other positive parenting approaches such as modeling good behavior (observational learning), positive praise, positive discipline, love, caring and empathy.

Always keep in mind that sometimes a child will require professional help to empower them to break those ingrained, damaging, destructive, or inhibiting behaviors or habits. Recognizing these may require not only our own understanding and knowledge of our child, but also by getting input from their teachers, family doctors, baby-sitters, and other family members.

Using reward charts to encourage behavior change in our children can be a highly effective behavior change tool, but what happens when the reward charts lose their power, or they stop working? Or what if the the reward charts never really started working for your child in the first place? What course of action should be taken when this happens?

Firstly lets look at some of the reason why the reward charts might not be working or why they might be loosing their effectiveness.

Why the Reward Charts Might Not be Working

• Your child might simply be too young to start with such a reward plan: Using a reward chart requires your child to have a handle on a few fundamentals such as patience, the difference between “now” and “later”, self control, and delaying their gratification. When these things are lacking the effectiveness of the reward chart will be limited.

• The reward isn’t enticing enough: The kick-start to the reward chart is the motivation your child has in wanting to complete the behavior chart. Of course the main aim of a reward chart is to tap into your child’s “inner motivation”, but that’s a developing process. To effectively start and maintain a reward plan your child needs to desire the reward.

• The behavior is too hard for your child to change at the moment: Sometimes your behavior change expectations are too high. Your child might be too young, they might be affected by other things happening in their life (starting school, new baby in the house, divorce etc), or other tensions in the house which may be preventing the reward chart working to it’s full effect. Dealing with these underlying feeling first will help the reward plan. Sometimes setting the bar a little lower might also be considered.

• Not everyone is consistent with the reward plan: Could it be that other adults and care-givers in your child’s life aren’t completely on the same page when it come to administering the rewards chart? If you’re being consistent with your expectations, praise, and rewarding but some other significant adult isn’t, then the full effect of using reward charts will not be realized.

• You’re trying to stop or change behaviors that others are performing: It’s unlikely that you child will stick with the reward plan for very long if others are doing what they’re meant to stop. For example are they expected to stop hitting if their older sibling hits, or do they stop using inappropriate language if Dad let’s a few expletives slip around them?

• Your child is attached to your response to their bad behavior: This can be a tough concept to grasp, but often a child becomes attached to negative attention. It can easily become their “pay-off”. It stems from the concept that any attention given from a parent is an extremely powerful motivator.

• Your child’s personality might be a factor: Some kids hate the feeling of being “controlled”, and might consider a reward plan an attempt to control them. It’s true that using reward charts are in some ways an attempt of controlling our kids – for example “if you stop doing that then I’ll give you this”. The trick is to enhance your child’s Independence throughout the whole process. Put the control firmly back in their hands, then it becomes “their” decision to stick with the reward plan and reap the benefits.

Our next article will deal with ways of troubleshooting the reward charts when they don’t appear to be working and providing some example of how to get them back on track.

A few years ago when I was searching around for quality free printable reward charts, I found it so difficult to find a well designed, comprehensive free reward chart. Not to mention one that would motivate my child. In my disillusionment, I ended up designing and manufacturing my own reward chart products (you can find these reward chart packages here).

However, as a token of our appreciation for your visit to our website, we’d like to offer you a selection of free printable reward chart downloads.

I know at the time, I would’ve appreciated a quality free reward chart, such as the selection below.

To receive your free reward chart downloads simply fill in the form below and you’ll have access to your first download immediately (well at least as soon as you’ve confirmed our email to you )

These reward charts charts will load as a PDF file, so you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the charts. If you don’t have Adobe Reader you can get it for free by clicking this Adobe link.

How to download a free reward chart

When you receive your email containing the download link, simply click on either the image or the text link contained in the email, which will open the PDF file, then click “Save a Copy” and choose where you want to save it to. From there you can open and print it as often as you like. It’s yours!

Our free reward charts are quite elaborate and as such may take a while to download (depending on your Internet connection). Please be patient.

*** Handy Hint ***

Once you have received and printed your reward chart, you can make it reusable by getting it laminated. When your kids earn the sticker spot, get them to color it in using whiteboard markers. When the reward chart is completed you can wipe it off and start again!

• Try your best to take notice of any good behaviors. Even the small ones.

• Show your child that you are confident that they will behave well and achieve the results they want.

• You don’t need to wait for the perfect behavior to happen to praise your children.

• Catch your child being “good” as often as you can.

• Drawing the attention of family and friends to the chart, can also be a good way to reward children, and acknowledge their improved behavior. This will work better when younger children are involved.

• Watching for how often your child is well behaved can encourage you too. It also gets you into the habit of recognizing when your child behaves well.

• Make earning a sticker easy in the first instance. Allow your kids to experience the fun in using reward charts. Make the targets harder over time. For example, it may be that you reward sitting on the potty initially rather than actually using the potty.

• If the chart seems to stop working, re-think the targets that have been set.

• When setting the targets for the reward charts, particularly for older children, it’s important to consider that the behavior you are rewarding is your child’s interest, their participation and the effort they put in. Often it’s not helpful to focus on their performance, their talent or their ability.

• Keep promises. When you follow through on your promises, good or bad, your child learns to trust and respect you.

• If you find the reward chart isn’t working effectively for you and your child, you may need to reexamine and make adjustments to the way you are using it. You need to ensure that it maintains the interest of your child.

More specifically reward charts can be used for such things as:

• Educational achievements – Practicing, reading, writing, learning times tables, completing homework etc.

• Daily activities – washing hands, brushing teeth, getting dressed, getting ready for bed etc.

• Developmental stages – sleeping through the night, potty training, becoming dry at night, learning to swim.

• Encouraging good behavior – using manners, tidying up, staying at the table for dinner, sharing.

• Getting rid of problem behavior: thumb sucking, hitting and kicking, tantrums (over 3’s), swearing, refusing to do chores.

In fact you are limited only by your imagination and by what may be age and developmentally appropriate for your child.

• Your child’s self-esteem will be enhanced. When attention is paid to children’s good behaviors rather than concentrating on the bad ones, children feel better about themselves. They see themselves as appreciated. They experience a sense of accomplishment as they work toward and achieve their goals. At every point of recognition their self-image will grow.

• Children have a natural, innate desire to become independent. When using a reward chart children can exercise that need for independence, they can choose to behave in a way that will bring them closer to, and achieve their reward. The distinction is that they are responding to their own desire to reach their reward, not to your demands that they behave the way you want them too. With a behavior chart in use, it is not your desires that are paramount, but rather your child’s and they will feel it that way. Now unburdened with “do this” and “do that”, they are left to make choices of their own.

• The interplay between you and your child become more enjoyable. When children are trapped in patterns of poor behaviours, or the “negative cycle”, they often drag their parents into that same “negative cycle”. Parents can respond badly in this situation – when a child is rude or behaves poorly, often parents can snap back, criticize, threaten, or generally withdraw their affection, and your child will further respond to this, or withdraw into themselves. This pattern repeats itself, and the cycle continues on and on. Adopting the principles of positive reinforcement coupled with a reward based strategy can put a stop to this.

• You allow your child to experience the satisfaction and pleasure of working toward a goal, while there is an underlying lesson of delayed gratification taking place.

There are many rules that may be followed in order to allow for the best opportunity of success, but there are three very important principles that underlie the successful use of reward charts.

• Be Positive: Studies have consistently shown that positive incentives and positive reinforcement are very effective in developing change in behavior. These have also demonstrated how a consistent flow of negative comments, criticizing and punishing your child can adversely effect the self-esteem of your child, and damages the chance for children to respond to the opportunities of positive learning that parents are trying to create. The effective use of our reward charts allow for the parents to emphasize the positives in their child’s behavior.

• Be Consistent: Critical to the success of our reward charts is in being consistent in the reinforcing of good behavior. Without being overbearing, find opportunities to consistently remind your child about the chart and what it is all about (remember the chart is meant to be fun, keep this in mind when reminding your child), and keep the chart in a central and visible location to help with your child’s and your awareness of the chart and the related outcomes. Be consistent with the allocation of stickers and keep up your side of the bargain when handing out the rewards. This will demonstrate to your child that you are serious about using the reward charts and will help develop and maintain your child’s trust in using the reward chart system, and in turn develop and maintain your child’s motivation and focus.

• Be Realistic: It is vital when setting goals that they are realistic and attainable. A child will quickly become overwhelmed if you expect too big a change too quickly. Be sure to set goals for good behavior that are comfortably demanding and allow for success if your child puts in a reasonable amount of effort. Always consider the age of your child as well as their emotional and psychical developmental stage.

Almost all of the following rules are underpinned by these three critical principles. Some are self-explanatory and some may require further thought. Some may not completely apply to your child (for example, if your child is older, he may not respond positively to constant reminders or to constant overt praise). Some are repeated in various forms but all in their way are important to varying degrees (according to your child’s personality and their personal level of development).

The Reward Chart Rules (in no particular order)

• Keeping it simple is best. No more than one to three charts at a time.

• Explain ahead of time, how the reward chart will be used.

• Involve your child in choosing the rewards ahead of using the chart. This will give your child a sense of involvement and ownership over the process of using the reward chart.

• Never take away stickers for misbehavior. Reward charts are a positive behavior strategy. Once they’ve earned the sticker it’s theirs to keep. If they don’t earn a sticker and become argumentative, or become upset, express sadness that they didn’t get it, emphasize that another chance will come along soon, and then move on.

• Never renege on an agreed to reward. If a child has earned it, then they deserve it. Not following through on the reward will cause mistrust.

• Keep the charts in a highly visible place so they can be seen as a constant positive reminder.

• Be realistic. The charts need to be achievable in relation to the child’s age and development. Children will become disheartened quickly if the expectations placed on them are too high too soon.

• Strive to be positive, and praise their successes.

• Encourage your child’s involvement before starting a reward chart. It’s important that they are willing to tackle the reward chart, and know how it is going to work.

• When creating tasks for your child, it helps if you make them small and visually observable. This way it is clear to both you and your child that the expectation has been met. The tasks are either done … or they aren’t. For example water the plants, feed the dog, pick up clothes off the floor, wake up with a dry bed etc.

• When establishing the chart and setting the tasks, it’s important to be specific. Avoid generalized descriptions such as “be good”, “be nice to your brother”, “help parents” – tasks like these dis-empower your child because the parent is made the judge of whether the task has been done or not. Stick to things your child can feel a sense of accomplishment for.

• Show consistency. If you show a loss of interest in the reward chart then your child is more likely to lose motivation.

• Be sure that all carers such as parents, grand-parents, child-miners etc, are being consistent when rewarding your child.

• Use lots of verbal praise and stay positive.

• If you ever become seriously concerned about the behavior of your child, always seek consultation from a professional such as a G.P., mental health practitioner, teacher or health visitor etc.

When child behavior experts speak about changing behavior, often they lapse into a philosophical discussion about modifying behavior. At times these discussions, while valuable, can become generalizations about behavior change, rather than discussing the specifics about individualized tools to change behavior.

Many parents that I speak with “get” why behavior modification is important, they understand many of the principles involved, they recognize that there are healthy as well as unhealthy ways to go about it, and they can see how positive behavior change can benefit their children and themselves.

Sometimes when parents are searching for a solution for their child’s bad or inappropriate behavior they can get so caught up in the various arguments and counterarguments about parenting methods, techniques and tips that you can almost hear them crying out:

“I just want to know what tools are out there to help me change my child’s behavior?”

Effective tools to help change behavior

Any information and knowledge that can make you a better parent is fantastic, but sometimes parents have heard enough and just want a tangible product or tools for behavior change, that they can start using right away.

The tools and strategies for behavior change that I have used successfully with my children include reward charts, behavior contracts, token economy, sticker charts, lucky dip rewards, and “I Did It!” certificates. While I sell some of these fantastic ready-to-go products on this website, with a bit of creativity, materials and effort you can make your own easily enough. Or you can get some of our great free reward charts here.

You can check out the articles below for further ideas on tools to change behavior.

Fundamentally reward charts (or behavior charts) are tools for behavior management or behavior modification whereby a child is awarded stickers or other rewards for behaving well. This is a process of positive reinforcement and can be a very powerful tool in changing behavior. Reward charts won’t magically fix all bad behavior or make our children suddenly start behaving well, but think of it as adding a powerful weapon to your parenting arsenal.

Reward charts for children can help to:

• encourage new behaviors or habits
• change or shape behavior
• stop bad or inappropriate behavior
• improve existing behaviors
• change habits
• introduce healthy habits
• set goals
• …and so on.

Why our reward charts are unique and so powerfully effective

• Our reward charts come in a variety of different themes suitable for boys and girls of most ages up to the pre-teen adolescent (different strategies may need to be considered for the older children such as a token economy and behavior contracts).

• Your children can write their name on the behavior chart, and in the case of the 20 stickers charts they have a special space to write what they’re working on (the behavior or task), also their bronze reward, their silver reward and their “big” gold reward. We believe this really gives a sense of “ownership” over the rewards chart, and it offers an on-going incentive or rewards in smaller stages before they reach the ultimate goal of the behavior chart.

• Our reward charts for children vary in the number of sticker spaces to be filled, according to the age and development of the child. For example some reward charts need 10 reward stickers to complete, while others need 20 reward stickers. The reward charts are designed so that a child will experience a smaller reward earlier in the use of the chart, before an increased ‘stretch’ to reach the ultimate reward. After tasting this early success, children are more likely to concentrate their efforts on reaching the final goal of their rewards chart.

• With the 10 sticker reward chart a child will reach the Silver star after 5 reward stickers and the Gold star after 10 reward stickers. Generally these reward charts are used with toddlers and younger children and the “reward” of gaining a smiley sticker or a star sticker is all that is required. Of course other rewards may be offered on reaching the silver and gold stars, and these could be recorded and stored separately.

• With the 20 sticker reward charts, the child will reach the Bronze star (and a smaller reward) after 5 reward stickers, the Silver star (and another smaller reward) after 10 reward stickers, and the Gold star (and ultimate or “big” reward) after 20 reward stickers.

• We have found through hours and hours of testing and relentless trial and error that the format of our reward charts (smaller reward, leading to smaller reward, leading to larger reward) offers a fantastic chance to maintain a child’s interest in the reward chart. Of course this leads to a greater chance of success for your children.

Using your reward charts successfully

• Our behavior charts are designed to have your child be involved in all aspects of using the behavior chart.
• This can include brainstorming for possible rewards (with your guidance and final say of course).

• Discuss with your child (when calm and controlled) possible behavioral goals that may need to be addressed or other such goals (for example, improved homework practices, brushing teeth etc).

• Get your child to write their name, their goal behavior (or task, etc) and their rewards for completing the behavior chart, on the laminate coated reward chart with the marker included in the reward chart pack.

• When your child does what they have committed to (as written on their rewards chart), award them with a sticker to place on the rewards chart. It’s a great visual incentive for your child to see their progress towards their goal reward.

• When your child has filled in all the reward stickers spots on the reward chart, then they can be awarded their reward. They have earned it!

• At this stage the reward charts can be wiped cleaned, the reward stickers removed, and a new reward chart can be started.

• Please consider also that the more involvement children have in the preparation toward the use of the reward charts, the more of a sense of “ownership” your child will have over the reward chart or behavior chart and the process of using it. We have found that this can often be the missing link leading toward the success of using reward charts. (Of course this involvement may be determined by your child’s age and level of development)

Reward charts are not the answer to all of your parental challenges (and shame on anyone who says they will be) but used wisely and well, and coupled with effective praising, they really can offer us parents a proven effective, and very powerful strategy of behavior management. If you choose to buy our reward charts, or if you decide to make your own kids charts, remember the key is always to Be Positive, Be Consistent, Be Realistic and Be Fair. (Check out our reward chart rules)