Reward charts are a great way to encourage your child to complete certain tasks without you having to constantly remind and badger them to do it.
They also give your child a sense of responsibility and accomplishment once they have completed a week and received their reward.
If you are hoping to create a chart for your little one, bear in mind the following six tips:
1. Get your child involved in the process
This way they will know exactly what they have to do to achieve a star.
2. Choose your reward carefully
At the end of the week, most parents give their child a reward if they have received a certain number of stars on their chart. And while this is entirely up to you, you should try to avoid using treats and food as a reward. Think trips to the park, colouring pencils or playdates.
3. Don’t make it too hard for them to achieve their reward
The longer it takes your child to reach their goal the harder it will be for them to stay motivated. The older they get the harder you can make it, but you need to keep them focused on the task at hand.
4. Make it fun and colourful
There is no point sticking a reward chart up if it is not going to be interesting to your child - the more colour you choose the less like work it will seem. Why not get them to decorate it? This way they'll feel like they are involved in the process and not just being forced to do something.
5. Put it somewhere accessible
Make sure you put the chart up where they will be able to see it. The kitchen or their bedroom is a good place and it will act like a subtle reminder to do their tasks. Alternatively, you can photocopy a few extras and pop them up around the house so there will be no excuse for forgetting what they have to do.
6. Don't put too much on it
Finally, don't bombard them with too many tasks. Two or three is plenty to get them started and remember to be specific: pick up Lego, hang up coat or put away jigsaw puzzle.
