How to help your Kids Chart Success for the New Year

Many parents struggle to find effective consequences while overlooking the benefits of using rewards. Positive reinforcement is a proactive way to encourage good behavior, and one that can be easily accomplished by using charts.

My kindergartener went from making excuses and refusing to participate in PE to looking forward to it and becoming an active participant, all because good behavior meant she could come back to her classroom and move up the behavior chart. It was an arrangement we worked out with her homeroom teacher. When I ran into her PE teacher last week, she threw her arms up and exclaimed, “It’s like she’s a completely different person.”

The degree of effect of a chart may vary from child to child, but charts speak the language of kids for the most part and can be very beneficial. Here’s why.

1. They set clear expectations. When you’re clear about your expectations, you set your kids up for success.

2. They’re a great organizational tool. So much goes on in a given day that sometimes your child may neglect to do something out of simple forgetfulness. Charts are a great way to remind your child and help him stay on task.

3. They instill positive reinforcement. Kids often misbehave to get attention. The idea behind charts is to pay more attention to the positive behaviors. By engaging in proactive parenting, there will be less need for reactive discipline, which makes life more easy and pleasant for everyone.

4. They provide immediate feedback. When kids receive immediate feedback about their performance, it allows them to self-correct as needed.

5. They provide instant gratification and teach delayed gratification. A simple checkmark signals a visual cue that your child has done something right and this can be very rewarding and motivating. But not only can charts be used to satiate instant gratification; they can also teach delayed gratification. To further reinforce good behavior, you can tally up checkmarks accrued during the week or month and have it translate into a tangible reward. This teaches kids the complex value of delayed gratification, which is critical for achieving success in life.

6. They help parents retain control. The difference between a bribe and a reward is that rewards are established ahead of time in a calm manner, in the absence of crisis. In rewarding your child, you might say, “I expect you to do your homework quietly and take a bath without complaining. If you do, you can watch your favorite show after.” Whereas a bribe might sound something like, “If you stop whining, I’ll let you watch TV.” A bribe puts the control in the hands of your kids, whereas a reward keeps control in the hands of parents.

Charts can be as varied as a child’s personality. Many free printable charts are available online, including the ones we provide below. Charts are available for purchase at teachers’ supplies stores. Or you can even make your own chart to fit your needs. But the type of chart you choose will likely depend on the goal you are trying to help your child achieve. Here are a few to help you get started.

Coming up with a suitable chart is a great place to start. But accomplishing goals and motivating your child to good behavior will require more than taping a chart to a wall. Here are some tips on how to get the most effective use out of charts.

1. Single behavior chart. A single behavior chart usually works well when you’re focusing on a single task like potty training. Since all you need is a single column for every day of the week, you can easily access a printable, purchase a generic one or even make your own.

2. Multiple behavior chart. For those of you who have trouble getting out the door in the morning or need help coaxing your child to take a bath at night, this one’s for you! Columns can include everything from brushing teeth to waking up on time, to taking a bath without whining. Since behavior charts will usually require specific tailoring to each child, using a flexible template or even creating your own chart is a great option.

3. Chores chart. The same can be said for a chores chart. Every family will have their own chores whether it’s making your bed, getting dressed by yourself, making your own lunch, or loading the dishwasher. So using a flexible template or creating your own is a great option here as well.

4. Goal chart. This is a more complex chart to implement but a great one nonetheless, especially when planning your child’s goals for the New Year. A goal chart will first require making a list of what your child’s goals are. You may want to whittle down the list of goals to a few or a couple so as not to overwhelm your child. Once you’ve identified your child’s goal or goals, map out the road to success. If your child, for example, wants to become the next spelling bee champion, you may break up the tasks into interactive testing, individual studying, studying etymology, etc. Don’t shy away from supporting your child’s ambitions. Even if they don’t reach their lofty goal, they will have likely advanced much farther than where they started from. And they will have learned the beginning strategies behind tackling a complex goal. They will also learn gauge success using healthy metrics, especially if you reward them for their effort and not their outcome.

1. Learn by trial and error. You will likely need to augment your child’s chart according to your child’s changing needs. Be flexible with your chart and be ready to change it. The chart is there to serve you and your child’s needs, not the other way around.

2. Be consistent about charting. Inconsistent reporting negates the effectiveness of using a chart. If you only check off completed chores in the beginning of the week and forget to do it on the weekend, your child may be less motivated to participate.

3. Acknowledge good behavior in front of others. Some kids, like my daughter, are very motivated by public acknowledgement. Even if it’s to highlight a job well done in the course of a week in front of your immediate family members, recognition can go a long way.

4. Reinforce good behavior with rewards. When consistent effort and good behavior as indicated on a chart translate to a tangible reward, your child will be motivated to continue the course, and learn about delayed gratification in the process. Rewards should be tailored to a child’s interests according to a parent’s approval.