3 to 5 year olds
You can start using a reward chart with your child once he’s about 3 years old. It’s important to keep the number of ‘steps’ on the chart less than ten, and make sure you recognize the halfway mark with a small treat – a fun activity at home, baking or a simple game would be ideal.
This age group is easily distracted, so be clear about what kind of behavior you’re using the chart to encourage – good listening, no more tantrums or even just saying please. Preschoolers work best when they know what’s expected of them, so reward charts work really well once your child knows the house rules.
Keep him focused by heaping on the praise when he moves up the chart. Let him chose the end reward from a range of 3, to help him remember just what he’s working to achieve.
Charts
Yo, ho, ho! Get your kids shipshape as they collect treasures in the sand and make their way on board the Pirate’s ship. Download and cut out the pirate character, sticking a photo of your child’s head on it so she can become captain of her own ship!
The garden’s in bloom as your child makes her way through the friendly flowers to the fairy queen’s palace. Download and cut out the character, sticking a photo of your child’s head on it so she knows it’s really her who’s moving up the chart!
5, 4, 3, 2, 1… blast off! An astronaut in his rocket ship, your child zooms through the stars and passes by funny, green aliens before he reaches the planet he’s aiming for. Don’t forget to download and cut out the character, then stick a photo of your child’s face inside his helmet!